The Generalized Phase Behavior of Paraffin-Tetralin-Bitumen Systems

Author: Billheimer, John S.

Year: 1949

Degree: Engineer's thesis

Advisors: Sage, Bruce H.; Lacey, William Noble

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Chemical Engineering

DOI: 10.7907/7b1g-ka12

Abstract

The addition of paraffin hydrocarbons to a solution of bitumen in tetralin will cause partial separation of the bitumen. Increasing the paraffin concentration will increase the separation of bitumen providing a second liquid phase characterized by high solvency for bitumen does not form. A maximum in the bitumen separation is thus obtained at the paraffin concentration corresponding to the formation of this second liquid phase. An increase in temperature generally results in a decreased separation of bitumen. These complex phase behaviors have been investigated for the addition of methane, n-pentane, and decane to a restricted bitumen-tetralin system.

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