Characterization of asphaltene isolated from low-temperature coal tar

• Published in: Fuel processing technology Vol. 138; pp. 413 - 418
• Main Authors: Sun, Zhi-Hui, Li, Dong, Ma, Hai-Xia, Tian, Pan-Pan, Li, Xue-Kun, Li, Wen-Hong, Zhu, Yong-Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2015
• Subjects: Aliphatic compounds; Aromatic compounds; Asphaltene; Asphaltenes; Asphalts; Characterization; Coal tar; Constituents; Crude oil; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Low-temperature coal tar; Molecular weight; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; oxygen; petroleum; Structure; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Asphaltene; Characterization; Low-temperature coal tar; Structure
• ISSN: 0378-3820; 1873-7188
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2015.05.008

The asphaltene from low-temperature coal tar (LTCT) derived from Shanbei has been characterized through combination of conventional techniques, such as elemental analysis, molecular weight analyses, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The chemical structural analysis results confirm the view that asphaltenes are composed of confused aromatic rings bearing heteroatoms and alkyl and cycloalkyl constituents. Compared to asphaltenes from crude oils, the asphaltene from LTCT has lower molecular weight, higher aromaticity, higher contents of heteroatoms (especially oxygen) and shorter aliphatic side chains. [Display omitted] •LTCT asphaltene has higher aromaticity and shorter alkyl chain length.•LTCT asphaltene has higher contents of heteroatoms, particularly oxygen.•The oxygen atom exists in the form of C–O.