Abstract
Several fractions contained in two kinds of bitumens mined by open-cut and SAGD methods were analyzed in detail, using ^1H-NMR, ^<13>C-NMR, and GPC, to examine the effect of mining method on the molecular structure of asphaltene, which is the heaviest fraction in bitumen. Also, the results were compared with that for vacuum residue obtained from a conventional petroleum oil. The asphaltene of SAGD mining contained a smaller amount of inorganic matter and had smaller condensed rings than that of open-cut mining. The asphaltene in bitumens had higher average molecular weight, lower aromaticity, greater number of unit structure, and higher polarity than that in the petroleum oil.
