A study of asphaltene-resin interactions

A study was carried out to investigate the interaction between asphaltenes (in toluene solutions) and resins (in n-heptane solutions). To better understand the type of interaction between these fractions, it was quantified the resin uptake when asphaltenes (dissolved in toluene) were precipitated by a resin-containing n-heptane solution. These results indicated the asphaltene precipitation occurs together with a reduction in the resin concentration. The binding isotherm profiles indicated that saturation occurred in one case, while collective association following an initial plateau was observed for the other two samples. These results confirmed the hypothesis that resins can adsorb on asphaltenes but cannot prevent asphaltenes from flocculating and precipitating. Furthermore, microcalorimetric results suggested that the resin and asphaltene interact by weak van der Waals forces. These results are in stark contrast with the school of thought prevalent since the 1940s that resins can peptize and stabilize asphaltenes.