Determination of Asphaltene Critical Nanoaggregate Concentration Region Using Ultrasound Velocity Measurements.

ABSTRACT: Asphaltenes constitute the heaviest, most polar and aromatic fraction of petroleum crucial to the formation of highly-stable water-in-crude oil emulsions. The latter occur during crude oil production as well as spills and cause difficulties to efficient remediation practice. It is thought that in nanoaggregate form, asphaltenes create elastic layers around water droplets enhancing stability of the emulsion matrix. Ultrasonic characterisation is a high-resolution non-invasive tool in colloidal analysis shown to successfully identify asphaltene nanoaggregation in toluene. The high sensitivity of acoustic velocity to molecular rearrangements and ease in implementation renders it an attractive method to study asphaltene phase properties. Currently, aggregation is thought to correspond to an in

SUBMITTER: Svalova A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5700960 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature