OXYGEN COMPOUNDS IN ATHABASCA ASPHALTENE

Specific classes of oxygen-containing compounds in the low molecular weight, acetone-extractable portion of Athabasca asphaltene have been isolated and identified. They include fluorenones, benzofluorenones, and dibenzofluorenones; tri- and pentacyclic terpenoid carboxylic acids; carboxylic acids of dibenzothiophene, n-alkanes, anthracene, and dibenzofuran; and bi-, tri-, tetra-, and hexacyclic terpenoid sulfoxides. The most abundant classes were the terpenoid sulfoxides and carboxylic acids. The total amount of identified material comprises ~ 1.3% of the asphaltene and, with the exception of some aromatic acids, has also been detected in the resin fraction of the bitumen. These materials effect the solubilization of the asphaltene micelles in the maltene fraction of the bitumen. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.