Patent ID: 6087662
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for determining asphaltene concentration in an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon mixture using infrared spectroscopy and a multiple variable regression analysis to determine asphaltene concentration, comprising in combination:a. measuring at at least one frequency, the infrared absorption in the band of 3800-700 cm.sup.-1 ;b. taking each of the absorbances measured, or a mathematical function thereof;c. performing statistical treatment using the above absorbances or to functions as individual independent variables;d. assigning and applying weighting constants or their equivalents to said independent variables;e. applying the above steps using compositions of known asphaltenes concentration to calibrate the instrument and determine said weighting constants or equivalents;f. repeating said steps with unknown compositions, and applying the weighting constants or equivalents determined during said calibration with compositions of known asphaltenes concentration to output a signal or signals indicative of asphaltenes concentration for the unknown compositions.