Experimental study reveals reversible particle aggregation dynamics in hydrocarbon solvent mixtures, indicating that kinetic models predict asphaltene floc growth.
The kinetics of asphaltene particle growth in model systems of asphaltenes, n-heptane, and toluene were investigated using a particle-size analyzer. Individual precipitated asphaltene particles were found to be on the order of 1 μm in diameter. The asphaltene particles formed loose fractal-like flocs with volume mean diameters ranging up to 400 μm and a fractal dimension of approximately 1.6. Asphaltene flocculation was reversible, and the flocculation rate increased with increased asphaltene concentration, increased heptane content, and decreased shear rate. A reversible kinetic flocculation model successfully fit the particle-size distributions and growth in mean volume diameter over time.
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Rastegari et al. (2004) studied this question.
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