ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PETROLEUM SULFONATES

Different petroleum fractions were sulfonated with fuming sulfuric aci d. The fractions were isolated from Boscan crude oil by Soxhlet extrac tion. This method allows for the separation of four fractions which we re extracted with acetonitrile, methanol, n-heptane and benzene, respe ctively. The separation was monitored by UV/VIS spectrophotometry AAS. After sulfonation, the oil layer was neutralized with caustic soda. T he sulfonated sodium salts of each fraction were extracted with ethano l-water. UV/VIS spectra of the diluted aqueous phases of each fraction showed a characteristic band of sulfonate. In all cases, Fraction 3 s howed the greatest concentration of sulfonates. Finally, the molecular mass distribution was examined by using an Ultrastyragel column. Frac tion 3 exhibited a widespread molecular mass and symmetrical distribut ion.