Regular solution based approach to modeling asphaltene precipitation from native and reacted oils: Part 1, molecular weight, density, and solubility parameter distributions of asphaltenes

Asphaltenes self-associate and their molecular weight, density, and solubility parameter distributions are factors in asphaltene precipitation. Thermo- and hydrocracking alter these distributions and these changes must be accounted for when modeling solubility. To determine these distributions for reacted asphaltenes, heptane extracted asphaltenes from native, thermo-cracked, and hydrocracked crude oils were fractionated into solubility cuts....