Experiments are described which demonstrate that asphaltenes precipitated from a refinery tar using an excess of n-heptane spontaneously partition into a contacting water phase in the presence of an ethoxylated nonionic surfactant by effecting a temperature change. The process appears to be related to the temperature-dependent phase behaviour of the particular surfactant. Hot (ca. 80-90°C) aque...

The role and importance of nanoparticles for interstellar chemistry and beyond is explored within the framework of The Heterogeneous dust Evolution Model for Interstellar Solids (THEMIS), focusing on their active surface chemistry, the effects of nitrogen doping and the natural selection of interesting nanoparticle sub-structures. Nanoparticle-driven chemistry, and in particular the role of int...

The aggregation and structure of polar molecules in nonpolar media may have a profound effect on bulk phase properties and transport. In this study, we investigate the aggregation and deposition of water and asphaltenes, the most polar fraction in petroleum fluids. In flow-line experiments, we vary the concentration of water from 500 up to 175,000 ppm and provide the evidence for clear changes ...