Abstract
Various molecular species present in Athabasca oil sand were identified using X-ray powder diffraction, and i.r. and Raman spectroscopy (200–4000 cm −1). Acyclic paraffin, straight-chain alkane, hopane and sterane hydrocarbons were prominent. Quartz sand (SiO 2) grains were dispersed in thin films of water, to form silanol type ( SiO 2 + H 2 O γ Si OH) functional groups. The H 2O molecules gave rise to a characteristically sharp i.r. band at 3720 cm −1, and the silanol molecular species existed as strongly hydrogen bonded systems. This investigation also indicated the presence of carbonyl, hydroxyl and/or carboxylic acid species, in polymerized forms.
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