CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF COLD LAKE BITUMEN

A detailed analysis has been carried out on the deasphaltened Cold Lake bitumen using two different series of chromatographic separations followed by i.r., u.v., n.m.r. and computerized GC/MS studies of the separated fractions: saturates (21.3), monoaromatics (8.3), diaromatics (3.6), polyaromatics and non-specific polar compounds (24.35), acids (15.2), bases (6.38), and neutral nitrogen compounds (1.15% of bitumen). The acyclic paraffin content of the maltene is low but decidedly higher than in the related Athabasca bitumen, indicating that the Cold Lake bitumen suffered a less complete biodegradation. Straight-chain paraffins and the isoprenoids phytane and pristane are present. The mono- and diaromatic fractions were analysed by high-voltage, low-resolution mass spectrometry. The monoaromatic fraction contains alkylbenzenes, naphthenebenzenes and dinaphthenebenzenes in a ratio of approximately 1:1:1. The ratio for naphthalenes, acenaphthenes + dibenzofurans and fluorenes in the diaromatic fraction is approximately 1:0.9:0.6. The composition of Cold Lake bitumen closely resembles that of the Athabasca bitumen except that its asphaltene content is somewhat lower and its acidic and saturate content is slightly higher. © 1978.