Structural modifications of petroleum asphaltenes by reductive alkylation investigated by TLC-FID

The reductive alkylation of a French petroleum asphaltene (Lagrave) was studied with potassium in THF, in absence of an electron transfer reagent. From the number of butyl and benzyl groups added to the starting asphaltene, the difference of reactivity of the alkyl reagents, butyl iodide and benzyl bromide, was pointed out. Special attention was focused on the cleavage of C–S and C–O linkages in relation to the structural modifications. From the number of hydrogen atoms added during the reduction step, it was concluded that the sulphide linkages are mainly of aryl-S-aryl, aryl-S-alkyl or alkyl-S-alkyl types. The TLC-FID (Iatroscan) analysis was found to be very suitable to follow the “depolymerization” process of the asphaltene, qualitatively as well as quantitatively, by the application of quantitative hydrocarbon group type analysis.