Application of Taylor Dispersion Technique to Measure Molecular Diffusion Coefficient of Hexane-Bitumen System

The aim of this research is to use a novel approach with less technical and analytic limitations in liquid solvent-bitumen diffusion studies. Taylor dispersion technique has been selected in this work due to its convenient short run-time experiments and reliable data analysis to find molecular diffusion coefficients in hexane-bitumen system. For the first time, the infinite dilution molecular diffusion coefficients of bitumen in hexane were measured in both cases of presence and relative absence of asphaltene particles in the solution. As the first result, polydisperse nature of bitumen is clearly revealed. Results were compared with common predictive tools and the most reliable correlation is proposed. Also, it is found that asphaltene particles presumably have surface charge in hexane solvent. Moreover, through concentration dependency investigations it was found that the molecular diffusion coefficients monotonically decrease as the viscosity of mixture increases within the concentration range studied. In conclusion, Taylor dispersion technique showed a great potential in diffusion studies of liquid solvent-bitumen systems.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Ghanavati, Mohsen

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hassanzadeh, Hassan

• Engineering--Petroleum

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/24967

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/452