DIFFUSE-REFLECTANCE INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF SEDIMENTS DERIVED FROM VISBROKEN RESIDUAL OILS

Diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy technique possesses a decide d advantage to many classical transmission spectroscopic studies of pe troleum fractions and related materials, where the solids are disperse d and encapsulated in a matrix, The detailed and comprehensive diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopic study on the sediments derived fro m visbroken residues after prolonged storage at ambient aging conditio ns are reported. The technique provides a better degree of characteriz ation and high quality data on the structure and chemistry of sediment formation during visbreaking and storage at ambient aging conditions. The study also provides a new insight into the visbreaking reactions, which especially influence the nature and extent of sediment formatio n.