Chromatographic separation of asphaltenes on silica materials
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Abstract
In this study, we describe the use of different silica materials to separate vanadium compounds from Asphaltenes. We used high performance flash chromatography separation method to separate asphaltenes at different solvent strengths on sea sand. The separation conditions were optimized for flow rate and the strength of the solvent. The selectivity of separation was determined based on asphaltene and metal recovery. With separation on sea sand as the solvent strength increased, the recovery percentage of the asphaltenes also increased. Similarly, stronger solvent blends give poor selectivity based on peak shifts in fluorescence spectra. The separation conditions were then used to compare the performance of a series of silica materials treated with alkaline earth metals. These samples were treated with the same molar concentration of reactant at the same temperature. Treatment of silica materials resulted in an increase in metals recovery and asphaltene recovery by providing less active sites for adsorption.