Flocculation behavior of asphaltenes was monitored as a function of added precipitant (n-heptane) to solutions of suspended asphaltenes and naphthenic acids, using DLS and NIR techniques. DLS and NIR show very good correlation, and specific interaction

1
Effect of Naphthenic Acids on the Dielectric
Response, Particle Aggregation, and Sedimentation
Behavior of Asphaltene Suspensions
J. Paige Phillips
Flocculation behavior of asphaltenes was
monitored as a function of added precipitant
(n-heptane) to solutions of suspended asphaltenes
and naphthenic acids, using DLS and NIR
techniques. DLS and NIR show very good
correlation, and specific interaction energies
and equilibrium intermolecular distances of
asphaltenes and naphthenic acids were calculated
using molecular mechanics. The results from
molecular modeling calculations support the
experimental results of the titrations, and
important structure property relationships were
defined.