Definition of fossil fuel-derived asphaltenes in terms of average structural properties

摘要: Abstract Molecular mass and polarity alone do not adequately explain the benzene solubility of all fossil fuel-derived asphaltenes. To account for solubilities a wide selection asphaltenes in terms average structural properties, it has been necessary to consider also nature aromatic structures by deducing proportion internal (bridgehead) carbon total ( C INT ). This takes both amount degree condensation nuclei. Three-dimensional plots number molecular mass, % acidic OH (measure polarity) give boundaries between insolubles, n -pentane solubles. An empirical parameter defined which gives values range 0.85-1.2, compared with ⩽ 0.6 solubles ⩾ 1.25 insolubles.