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Rapid assessment of total and polycyclic aromatic contents in heavy oils

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Abstract

The monitoring of the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is important for evaluating heavy oil products, especially those most likely to cause environmental impacts. In this study, a comparison between samples of heavy petroleum fractions, using different methods, was carried out. The calculation of carbon distribution and polycyclic aromatic contents was compared with other methods using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Therefore, it was possible to quickly estimate the aromatic content by the FTIR method, and the results showed consistency with those obtained through traditional methods. A rapid method, using extraction with dimethyl sulfoxide followed by FTIR measurements, was proposed and shown as particularly useful and reliable for a quick quantification of the PAH content, when compared to the traditional IP 346 method. Furthermore, the difference in total aromatic and PAH concentrations may be more clearly established. This rapid method may be used for the evaluation of PAH content in samples obtained from studies for their removal from complex heavy oil fractions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge financial support from FUNCAP and Petrobras.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Engenharia Química, Grupo de Pesquisa em Separações por Adsorção—GPSA, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campus do Pici, 709, Fortaleza, CE, 60.455-900, Brasil

    F. Murilo T. Luna, Antonio A. Pontes Filho & Celio L. Cavalcante Jr

  2. Petrobras/Cenpes, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21.949-900, Brasil

    Eduardo D. Trindade

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  1. F. Murilo T. Luna
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  2. Antonio A. Pontes Filho
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  3. Eduardo D. Trindade
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  4. Celio L. Cavalcante Jr
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Correspondence to Celio L. Cavalcante Jr.

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Luna, F.M.T., Pontes Filho, A.A., Trindade, E.D. et al. Rapid assessment of total and polycyclic aromatic contents in heavy oils. Environ Monit Assess 188, 215 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5213-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5213-7

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