Research on Phase Relationships - Multiple Condensed Phases in the Methane-Decane-Tetralin-Bitumen System

As a part of a general investigation of the separation of bitumen from hydrocarbon mixtures a study was made of a restricted quaternary system composed of methane, decane, tetralin, and bitumen. The work was limited to a pressure of 8000 psi, a temperature of 220 °F, and to a fixed relative proportion of decane, tetralin, and bitumen. The measurements permitted the determination of the distribution of these components in each of the fluid phases. It was not possible to distinguish a second liquid phase in the course of these measurements. Gas-liquid equilibrium "constants" of each of the components were found to vary markedly with the composition of the system while temperature and pressure remained fixed. INTRODUCTION The separation of bitumen frorn naturally occurring hydrocarbon mixtures has been of importance for a number of years in the production of petroleum, especially in the California area. The deposition of this material from crude oils was noted in earlier studies of the solubility of natural gas in crude oil.¹,²,3 Studies of the separation of bitumen from crude oils from the Greeley and Santa Fe Springs fields were carried out."." The behavior of these systems appeared complex and studies of two restricted ternary systems involving mixtures of n-pentane, tetralin, and bitumen,' and of decane, tetralin; and hitumen, confirmed this belief. Reviews of the literature pertaining to the separation of bitumen from naturally occuring and refined hydrocarbons are available." The important effect of methane in the separation of bitu- men from naturally occurring hydrocarbon mixtures was apparent from the earlier studies and for that reason it appeared desirable to investigate a restricted quarternary system involving mixtures of methane. decane, tetralin, and bitumen; data concerning the behavior of mixtures of decane. tetralin. and bitumen having already been obtained.V his study was restricted to a pressure of 8000 psi," a temperatue of 220° F, and fixed relative proportions of bitumen, decane. and tetralin. This composite constituent, hereinafter designated as the less volatile constituent, was made up of 0.0455 weight fraction bitumen. 0.0909 weight fraction decane, and 0.8636 weight fraction tetralin. The experimental method involved bringing together mixtures of methane and the less volatile constituent in varying proportions in a constant volume container at the pressure and temperature indicated above. The composition of each of the phases was determined and from this the extent of the separation of bitumen was established. MATERIALS The bitumen used in this investigation was obtained from the same stocks employed in earlier studies. The crude material from the North Coles Levee field was stored in the laboratory] in a closed drum for a period of five years. Several samples from this stock were subjected to refining operations which were described earlier,' and every effort was made to follow the same procedure in all cases. It was necessary to prepare supplies of bitumen for this investigation at two rather widely different times. These materials have been identified as samples 1 and 2. The composition of the crude bitumen after it was washed with n-pentane at room temperature