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The solubility parameters for ten fractions of Athabasca vacuum residue were calculated from molecular representations via group additivity methods. Two methods were used; Marrero-Gani and Fedors. The calculated parameters were compared between the fractions for consistency, and also compared with other literature sources. The results from the Marrero-Gani method were satisfactory in that the values were in the expected range and the results were consistent from fraction to fraction. The final stage of the work on group additivities was to estimate the solubility parameter values at the extraction temperature of 473 K, and then compare the solutes to the solvents. The solubility parameters of the solvents were calculated from correlations and from the molecular dynamic simulation; the latter method did not result in fulfilling values. The most reasonable solvent and solute solubility parameters were used to assess the utility of the solubility models to explain the trends. The solubility models were not suitable for these types of materials. Stability of heavy oil fractions undergoing mild thermal reactions were predicted computationally for limited sample cracked molecules.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-19T12:56:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ariana Komura de Castro.pdf: 1539013 bytes, checksum: 9322eebdf7e436f3bca6297342a522b1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-07-03 / The Hildebrand solubility parameter is used to express the compatibility of petroleum in mixtures, starting from the principle that, independently from the system composition, the asphaltenes always precipitate in a certain solubility parameter, known as the flocculation parameter, which estimated value is 16,35 (MPa)1/2. In this paper, it was tried to experimentally determine the flocculation parameter and the solubility parameters of some petroleum, through data of onset of precipitation of asphaltenes by adding n-alkenes. The experimental determinations of onset of precipitation were performed by optical microscopy and Near-Infrared spectroscopy (NIR), in order to be also evaluated the correlation between measures. The outcomes of onset of precipitation showed a reasonable correlation among techniques, but the data obtained by NIR were generally larger. Towards the flocculation parameter, the experimental data when adjusted to a linear behavior of first order ended up on inconsistent values compared with the ones in literature, what raised doubts about the basic hypothesis of compatibility model. However, it was possible the determination of solubility parameters for several petroleum and it was noticed that the data are used successfully in prediction of compatibility in mixtures, therefore, it was verified the need of the improvement of experimental methodology to the determination of onset of precipitation through Near-Infrared spectroscopy and clues indicate that the phenomena of asphaltenes precipitation may not be only molecular. / O parâmetro de solubilidade de Hildebrand é utilizado para expressar a compatibilidade de petróleos em misturas, partindo-se do princípio que, independentemente da composição do sistema, os asfaltenos precipitam sempre em um determinado parâmetro de solubilidade, conhecido como parâmetro de floculação, cujo valor estimado é 16,35 (MPa)1/2. Neste trabalho, tentou-se determinar experimentalmente o parâmetro de floculação e os parâmetros de solubilidade de alguns petróleos, através dos dados de início de precipitação dos asfaltenos pela adição de n-alcanos. As determinações experimentais de início de precipitação foram realizadas por microscopia ótica e espectroscopia de Infravermelho Próximo (NIR), a fim de que fosse avaliada também a correlação entre as medidas. Os resultados de início de precipitação indicaram uma correlação razoável entre as técnicas, mas os dados obtidos pelo NIR foram geralmente maiores. Em relação ao parâmetro de floculação, os dados experimentais quando ajustados a um comportamento linear de primeira ordem proporcionou valores inconsistentes comparados com o da literatura, o que coloca em dúvida a hipótese básica do modelo de compatibilidade. Entretanto, foi possível a determinação dos parâmetros de solubilidade para vários petróleos e foi observado que os dados são utilizados com sucesso na predição da compatibilidade em misturas, porém, verificou-se a necessidade do aperfeiçoamento da metodologia experimental para a determinação do início de precipitação através da espectroscopia de infravermelho próximo e indícios apontam que o fenômeno da precipitação dos asfaltenos possa não ser apenas molecular.