Tomoki C. S. Ruo

Chemical composition of Athabasca bitumen

Abstract A detailed analysis has been carried out on the deasphaltened Athabasca bitumen using two different series of Chromatographic separations followed by i.r., u.v., n.m.r. and computerized GC/MS studies of the separated fractions: saturates (22–25%), monoaromatics (10.3–10.8%), diaromatics (4.6–5.3%), polyaromatics and non-specific polar compounds (28.6%), acids (16.5%), bases (7.8%), and neutral nitrogen compounds (1.6%). The acyclic paraffin content of the maltene is low: straight-chain paraffins and the isoprenoids, phytane and pristane, are present in very low concentrations. Polycyclic saturates represent about 90% of the saturate fraction. The presence of C-27 and C-29–C-35 hopanes of the 17α(h):21β(H) series and C-21–C-30 steranes was established. The mono- and diaromatic fractions were analysed by computerized mass spectrometry. The monoaromatic fraction contains alkylbenzenes, naphthenebenzenes and dinaphthenebenzenes in a ratio of 1.0:1.7:1.3. The ratio for naphthalenes, acenaphthenes + dibenzofurans and fluorenes in the diaromatic fraction is 1:0.9:0.5.

Chemical composition of Cold Lake bitumen

Abstract A detailed analysis has been carried out on the deasphaltened Cold Lake bitumen using two different series of chromatographic separations followed by i.r., u.v., n.m.r. and computerized GC/MS studies of the separated fractions: saturates (21.3), monoaromatics (8.3), diaromatics (3.6), polyaromatics and non-specific polar compounds (24.35), acids (15.2), bases (6.38), and neutral nitrogen compounds (1.15% of bitumen). The acyclic paraffin content of the maltene is low but decidedly higher than in the related Athabasca bitumen, indicating that the Cold Lake bitumen suffered a less complete biodegradation. Straight-chain paraffins and the isoprenoids phytane and pristane are present. The mono- and diaromatic fractions were analysed by high-voltage, low-resolution mass spectrometry. The monoaromatic fraction contains alkylbenzenes, naphthenebenzenes and dinaphthenebenzenes in a ratio of approximately 1:1:1. The ratio for naphthalenes, acenaphthenes + dibenzofurans and fluorenes in the diaromatic fraction is approximately 1:0.9:0.6. The composition of Cold Lake bitumen closely resembles that of the Athabasca bitumen except that its asphaltene content is somewhat lower and its acidic and saturate content is slightly higher.