ASPHALTENE OXIDATION Russian patent published in 2010 - IPC C10G1/00 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: method of processing asphaltenes involves separation of hydrocarbons from an asphaltene-containing composition, where the hydrocarbons contain the separated asphaltenes and oxidation of the separated asphaltenes to obtain oxidation products. The average molecular weight of the oxidation products ranges from approximately 10% to approximately 50% of the average molecular weight of the separated asphaltenes. The oxidising agent contains a persulphate compound, peroxy acid, periodic acid or derivative or combination thereof. The method of processing oil-bearing sandstone involves separation of a mixture of hydrocarbons from oil-bearing sandstone; separation of asphaltenes from other hydrocarbons in a mixture of hydrocarbons; and oxidation of separated asphaltenes to obtain oxidation products, wherein the average molecular weight of oxidation products ranges from approximately 10% to approximately 50% of the average molecular weight of the separated asphaltenes.

EFFECT: processing asphaltenes to obtain oxidation products with average molecular weight from average molecular weight of separated asphaltenes, which enables their use as solvents or for further processing.

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