Iranian Chemical Engineering Journal

Iranian Chemical Engineering Journal

An Experimental Study of the Asphaltene Precipitation Inhibition Using Vitamin E and A Palmitate

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
A. Shokri Parku 1
Z. Hosseini Dastgerdi 2
A. Behrooz Sarand 2
A. Afghan 3
1 M. Sc. of Chemical Engineering, Urmia University of Technology
2 Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Urmia University of Technology
3 Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Urmia University of Technology
10.22034/ijche.2024.419344.1356
Abstract
In this study, for the first time, the effect of vitamin E and vitamin A palmitate on the asphaltene precipitation inhibition was investigated. These compounds can be used as an option in the asphaltene stabilization due to their amphiphilic structure with a polar head and a long alkyl chain. After the addition of vitamin A palmitate and vitamin E in different concentrations to the asphaltene in toluene solution, precipitation tests were performed using normal heptane. According to the results,
the phenolic structure and OH functional groups of vitamin E form π-π and hydrogen bonds with polar parts and polyaromatic core of the asphaltene which results in the inhibition of asphaltene. While vitamin A palmitate was recognized as an asphaltene precipitation agent due to its non-polar structure. The inhibition effect of the additive depends on the type of asphaltene. The results indicate that an increase in the asphaltene aromaticity increases the π-π interaction between vitamin E and asphaltene which increases the asphaltene stability.
Keywords
Asphaltene
Precipitation
Vitamin A Palmitate
Vitamin E
Subjects
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Iranian Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume 23, Issue 137
March and April 2025
Pages 52-61