The applicability of asphaltene treatment (mild oxidation and pyrolysis) in the investigation of crude oils

The aim of this study is to check which of four performed oil asphaltene treatments shows the best similarity in distributions of biomarkers and aromatic hydrocarbons and in the values of corresponding parameters with those obtained for maltenes. The obtained results imply the lack of a unique method which can result in good fitting of all biomarker and alkylaromatic ratios in oil asphaltene treatment products and corresponding maltenes. Among the performed asphaltene treatments two methods deserve attention: oxidation by NaIO4/NaH2PO4 and pyrolysis at 400 oC