GOALI: Characterization and Dissolution of Asphaltenes

拟议的研究涉及原油中沥青质的修复技术研究。 沥青质是芳香族稠环化合物，具有连接到极性杂原子（如硫）的短脂肪链。 它们在与原油生产有关的过程中的沉淀是有问题的。 这导致从岩层中回收油的效率低下，以及在井口下游处理油的困难。 使用溶剂如甲苯是溶解沥青质的传统方法，但这些溶剂由于其不利的环境影响而声名狼借。 最近，两亲物基烷烃流体已被提议作为沥青质修复的改进溶剂，并且该主题形成了所提议的研究项目的基础。

The proposed research concerns a study of remediation techniques for asphaltenes from crude oil. Asphaltenes are aromatic condensed ring compounds with short aliphatic chains attached to polar heteroatoms like sulfur. Their precipitation in processes related to crude oil production is problematic. This results in the inefficient recovery of oil from rock formations as well as in difficulties processing the oil downstream from the well head. The use of solvents like toluene has been a traditional approach for dissolving asphaltenes but these solvents are falling into disrepute because of their adverse environmental effects. More recently, amphiphile-based alkane fluids have been proposed as improved solvents for asphaltene remediation and this topic forms the basis for the proposed research project.