Joëlle Eyssautier

Abstract: The Yen–Mullins model, also known as the modified Yen model, specifies the predominant molecular and colloidal structure of asphaltenes in crude oils and laboratory solvents and consists of the following: The most probable asphaltene molecular weight is ∼750 g/mol, with the island molecular architecture dominant. At sufficient concentration, asphaltene molecules form nanoaggregates with an aggregation number less than 10. At higher concentrations, nanoaggregates form clusters again with small aggregation numbers. The Yen–Mullins model is consistent with numerous molecular and colloidal studies employing a broad array of methodologies. Moreover, the Yen–Mullins model provides a foundation for the development of the first asphaltene equation of state for predicting asphaltene gradients in oil reservoirs, the Flory–Huggins–Zuo equation of state (FHZ EoS). In turn, the FHZ EoS has proven applicability in oil reservoirs containing condensates, black oils, and heavy oils. While the development of the Yen–Mullin...

TL;DR: Neutron contrast variation experiments enhance the description of this nanoaggregate in terms of core-shell disk organization, giving insight into core and shell dimensions and chemical compositions.

TL;DR: In this article, a single source asphaltene sample was divided into solubility cuts by selective precipitation in solutions of heptane and toluene, and self-association was assessed through a combination of density, vapor pressure osmometry (VPO), elemental analysis, Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry, and time-resolved fluorescence emission spectra measurements performed on each cut.

TL;DR: This work demonstrates the complementary use of the two techniques: a homemade dynamic light scattering setup adapted to dark and fluorescent solutions, and small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering, to investigate asphaltene polydispersity.

TL;DR: In this article, Storm et al. make use of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data on the 80−240 °C temperature range to propose an interpretation on asphaltene aggregation, consistent with both approaches.