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5244114 
Journal Article 
Association behavior of pyrene compounds as models for asphaltenes 
Akbarzadeh, K; Bressler, DC; Wang, JN; Gawrys, KL; Gray, MR; Kilpatrick, PK; Yarranton, HW 
2005 
Yes 
Energy and Fuels
ISSN: 0887-0624
EISSN: 1520-5029 
AMER CHEMICAL SOC 
WASHINGTON 
19 
4 
1268-1271 
English 
WOS:000230706200009 
Asphaltene association in solution has been studied extensively using methods such as vapor-pressure osmometry and neutron scattering. These methods give relative data on association as a function of solvent strength, temperature, and concentration, but interpretation of the results is hampered by the polyfunctional nature of asphaltenes and the distribution of molecular weight. In this work, we present data on association of representative model structures for asphaltenes, as measured using vapor-pressure osmometry in o-dichlorobenzene at 75-130 degrees C, and using small-angle neutron scattering in toluene. A series of compounds were synthesized based on the four-ring aromatic compound pyrene. The synthetic compounds were designed to give interactions between aromatic rings, alkyl chains, and selected functional groups through aromatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and polar interactions. Even in this strong solvent, polar interactions between oxygen functional groups gave average molecular weights of up to twice the true value, indicating dimer formation. An alkyl pyrene compound, dipyrenyl decane, gave much less significant association. Pyrene itself exhibited little or no self-association. 
Energy & Fuels; Engineering; surfaces 
5th International Conference on Petroleum Phase Behavior and Fouling 
Banff, CANADA