Abstract
One of the natural asphalt, Athabasca tar-sand was compared with petroleum asphalt. Chemical characteristics of both asphalts were expressed in terms of elemental analyses, molecular weight data and carbon-type distribution which was derived from NMR spectroscopy.
The f ollowing results were obtained:
1) Although petroleum asphalt consists of high molecular weight fractions, both asphalts are regarded as similar heavy ends of petroleum oils.
2) Hetero elements, especially sulfur, content of Athabasca asphaltenes is higher than that of petroleum asphaltenes.
3) Petroleum asphalt treated with aluminum trichloride is regarded as much the same as crude oil, containing considerable amount of light fractions.
