STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF GUDAO ASPHALTENE BY RUTHENIUM ION CATALYZED OXIDATION

ABSTRACT

Structural characterization of Gudao asphaltene was undertaken by using ruthenium ion catalyzed oxidation (RICO ) which is capable of converting aromatic carbons selectivety to carbon dioxide and/or carboxyUc groups while leaving aliphatic and alicyclic structures essentially unaffected. The oxidation products were dominated by a homologous series of straight chain monocarboxyfic acids ( C₂ -C₃₅) indicating that normal alkyl chains are important constituents of the asphaltene. A series of α,ω; -dicarboxylic acids (C₄ - C₂₆) were also detected and determined, confirming the presence of poh/methylenc mokties linking two aromatic units. Relative high yields of benzenepenta- and hexacarboxyhc acids fonned in the RICO of Gudao asphaltene clearly indicate that substantia] aromatic structures of this asphaltene are peri-condensed.