Structural analysis of Athabasca asphaltenes by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract

A detailed structural analysis has been made of Athabasca asphaltenes using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Estimation of the aromatic structure within the asphaltenes shows that individual condensed aromatic sheets vary from a six-ring unit to, at least, a fourteen-ring unit. It appears that the high molecular weights of the asphaltenes are due not only to chemical bonding but also to electrostatic association between the individual units. © 1971.