Characterization of Cerro Negro crude. Part I. Physical and chemical separations. [Project shared by Bartlesville Energy Technology Center, US DOE, and Institute de Tecnologico del Venezolana Petroleo]

The scheme couples distillation and ion exchange and solid liquid chromatography in an attempt to prepare narrow-boiling, chemically unique fractions, which can be analyzed further or can supply data for process development. For evaluation of the separation approach, a Cerro Negro crude from the Venezuelan Orinoco basin has been studied in a cooperative program between the United States Department of Energy and the Institute de Tecnologico del Venezolana Petroleo. These fractions may be analyzed by ir, uv, fluorescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, as well as various mass spectroscopy methods. The approach appears to be promising. 5 figures, 6 tables.