Saturate, Aromatic, Resin and Asphaltene
Encyclopedia
Saturate, Aromatic, Resin and Asphaltene (SARA) is an analysis method that divides crude oil components according to their polarizability and polarity. The saturate fraction consists of nonpolar material including linear, branched, and cyclic saturated hydrocarbons (paraffins). Aromatics, which contain one or more aromatic rings, are slightly more polarizable. The remaining two fractions, resins and asphaltenes
, have polar substituents. The distinction between the two is that asphaltenes are insoluble in an excess of heptane (or pentane) whereas resins are miscible with heptane (or pentane).
Metode description
There are three main methods to obtain SARA results. One has lately emerged as the most popular. That technology is known as the Iatroscan TLC-FID, it combines TLC with flame ionization detection (TLC-FID). It is referred to as IP-143. Other analysis giving SARA numbers might not correspont to the numbers obtained in IP-143. It is therefore always important to know the analysis method when comparing SARA numbers.
Asphaltenes
Asphaltenes are molecular substances that are found in crude oil, along with resins, aromatic hydrocarbons, and alkanes . The word "asphaltene" was coined by Boussingault in 1837 when he noticed that the distillation residue of some bitumens had asphalt-like properties...
, have polar substituents. The distinction between the two is that asphaltenes are insoluble in an excess of heptane (or pentane) whereas resins are miscible with heptane (or pentane).
Metode description
There are three main methods to obtain SARA results. One has lately emerged as the most popular. That technology is known as the Iatroscan TLC-FID, it combines TLC with flame ionization detection (TLC-FID). It is referred to as IP-143. Other analysis giving SARA numbers might not correspont to the numbers obtained in IP-143. It is therefore always important to know the analysis method when comparing SARA numbers.