Effect of resins on asphaltene self-association and solubility

In previous studies, asphaltenes and resins have been treated as two distinct fractions of a crude oil. The asphaltenes were assumed to be the only self-associating fraction. However, there is evidence that resins also participate in this self-association. In this study, molar masses of mixtures of asphaltenes and resins were measured with vapour pressure osmometry. Precipitation from the same mixtures dispersed in solutions of toluene and pentane were also measured. The data were modelled with previously developed self-association and precipitation models. Model results with asphaltenes and resins characterized as a single distribution and as individual components are compared. The data and the modelling suggest that asphaltenes and resins are better characterized as a single distribution of self-associating components.