Intermolecular Effects of Fluorocarbons on MC800 Asphaltene and their Characterization

Nuclear magnetic resonance and dynamic nuclear polarization experiments were performed to study suspensions of asphaltene in the fluorocarbons at a low magnetic field of 1.53 mT, at room temperature. The asphaltene was extracted from MC800 liquid asphalt, which was of Heavy Iran origin. The elemental composition and the surface morphology of the asphaltene were determined by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Intermolecular spin-spin interactions occur between nuclear spins of hydrogen in the solvent medium and the free electron spins in the asphaltene micelles. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of the asphaltene was obtained and the saturation experiments were applied to the samples prepared in vacuum. The main ¹H DNP parameters were listed. Chemical composition and molecular structure of the asphaltene were analyzed. Scanning electron microscope images have shown that asphaltenes are constituted of agglomerated particles and smooth surfaces. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis has shown that the most abundant element is carbon.