Asphaltene Dispersion in Mixed Poor Solvents

Abstract

A good binary solvent for asphaltene was identified using Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) analysis, and aggregation behaviors were determined by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. The pure solvents showed poor performance in dissolving asphaltene, whereas a mixed solvent system of 83 vol% benzyl benzoate and 17 vol% hexane dissolved up to ∼16 wt% asphaltene. SAXS profiles at 10,000 mg/L of asphaltene in the binary solvent showed disappearance of nanoaggregates. These findings will be useful when developing mechanisms for controlling asphaltene aggregation/disaggregation in the crude oil industry.