Asphaltenes and maltenes characterization of aromatic residue from heavy crude oil

Characterization of asphaltene and maltenes obtained by precipitation of atmospheric residue from heavy crude (12°API) was carried out by elemental analysis and metals (Ni+V) content. Asphaltenes were precipitated from atmospheric residue abovementioned with n-heptane and n-pentane as solvents in a pressurized system with heating and stirring. It was observed that deasphalting removed metals simultaneously with asphaltenes leaving the maltenes with fewer amounts of Ni+V. However, sulfur is not removed in the same way as metals did during deasphalting due to the nature of sulfur molecules and its tendency to remain in maltenes