Effect of Wave Treatment on the Antioxidant Activity of Resins and Asphaltenes of Heavy High-Viscosity Crude Oil

Abstract

The effect of low-frequency acoustic treatment and of constant and alternating electromagnetic fields on the reactivity of crude oil and resin–asphaltene components was studied. Irrespective of the kind of the wave treatment, the amount of asphaltenes and resins separated from the treated oil decreases owing the breakdown of aggregates of complex structural units with the release of hydrocarbons of various structures, occluded in the molecular complexes, into the liquid phase. The treatment involves cleavage of weak hydrogen bonds with the formation of additional reaction sites in paramagnetic asphaltenes and diamagnetic resins. The reactivity of both crude oil and the separated resin and asphaltene fractions significantly changes owing to the formation of new reactive structures in the physical fields. These structures differ not only in the size and structure but also in the antioxidant properties. The data obtained allow more detailed evaluation of the effect exerted by various kinds of wave treatment on the composition and structure of asphaltenes and resins of heavy high-viscosity crude.