Asphaltene adsorption on kaolinite characterized by infrared and X-ray absorption spectroscopies

The petroleum industry has observed that the trapping of oils in sedimentary rock is largely correlated to the presence of kaolinite clays in the rockʹs intergranular space. Using X-ray absorption and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies, we studied at the microscopic level the adsorption process of asphaltenes in the presence and absence of water. We show that oil modifies the local environment of aluminum in this material and, more precisely, the Al–OH linkage. Finally, we show evidence that the process involved is different when the adsorption is performed with or without water.