Investigating Asphaltenes Composition in Crude Oil Samples using Iatroscan TLC-FID Method.

Abstract

This research was carried out to investigate the percentage composition of asphaltenes by Iatroscan analysis using Thin Layer Chromatography-Flame Ion Detection method (Iatroscan TLC-FID) The percentage composition of asphaltenes by Iatroscan TLC-FID method was compared with the weight% of asphaltenes precipitated. The results from the two methods nearly agreed with each other which revealed that the amount of asphaltene recovered by precipitation is analogous to Iatroscan analysis carried out prior to precipitation. The insignificant difference observed between the two results could be associated to some slight unavoidable experimental and analytical errors which were slightly encountered and instantly addressed. Based on the results obtained from Iatroscan analysis and % composition by weights of asphaltenes recovered, the non-degraded oil tagged 8676 was observed to comparatively have higher asphaltene composition (1125 mg, 11.22 %) than its counterpart which is very slightly degraded oil and tagged 6661 (608.5 mg, 6.085 %). This is not commonly reported in literature. Probably, this indicates that biodegradation may possibly not increase asphaltene composition of oil as widely reported.

Keywords: Asphaltenes, Biodegradation, Iatroscan TLC-FID, Oil