Abstract

CABALLERO, Valentina; CASTILLO, Jimmy; RANAUDO, María  and  GUTIERREZ, Héctor. Study of aggregation kinetics of asphalten from furrial and cerro negro crude oils by light scattering. Rev. Fac. Ing. UCV [online]. 2013, vol.28, n.3, pp.47-53. ISSN 0798-4065.

An experimental setup based on dynamic light scattering was developed to measure the average size of the aggregates as well as the aggregation kinetics of asphaltenes and A2 subfraction in toluene solutions. The system allows the measurement in real time of average particles size in dark solutions from nanometers to hundred of microns. The experimental kinetics curves (particle diameter vs. time) were modeled using the population balance equation to identify the type of mechanism that governs the growth of the aggregates. For Furrial asphaltene, it was found that the kinetics is governed by a diffusion limited aggregation, with a fractal dimension d_f = 1.8. The kinetics of Cerro Negro asphaltenes is governed by a reaction limited aggregation with a fractal dimension d_f=2.6.

Keywords : Asphaltenes; Kinetics; Aggregation; Light scattering; Diffusion; Reaction.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )