Abstract
Abstract Asphaltenes precipitated by the use of pentane, heptane and decane solvents from Saudi Arabian Light (AL) and Saudi Arabian Heavy (AH) crude oils 370°C + residua have been investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis and pyrolysis - gas chromatographic analysis at 350°C and 520°C. Gas chromatographic analysis of the gases evolved during pyrolysis has shown that CO, CO2 and CH4 constitute the major portion of the gases evolved at 350°C from pentane and heptane asphaltenes of AH residue and from pentane asphaltenes of AL residue. Whereas gases evolved from decane asphaltenes are dominated by CO2 and C2-C4 hydrocarbon gases. At 520°C, hydrogen and methane represent 56-80 vol %of the gases evolved from all the four asphaltenes. The amounts of C1-C4 hydrocarbon gases increased with an increase in the carbon number of the precipitating solvent at 350°C and decreased at 520°C. The presence of up to C36 normal alkane hydrocarbon has been indicated in the maltenes produced from these asphaltenes. The loss...
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