Patent ID: 7582874

Claim:
Method for measuring the flocculation threshold of a colloidal medium comprising asphaltenes by the addition in stages of apolar solvent comprising the following stages: (i) at least two probes are introduced into the medium, which probes operate by optical transmission at the level of detection zones with distinct dimensions; (ii) which of the at least two probes is suited for the measurement is determined by determination of the transmission threshold of the medium before addition of apolar solvent; and (iii) using the probe suited for measurement determined at step (ii) flocculation is determined after addition of the quantity of the apolar solvent necessary for flocculation at substantially ambient temperature, wherein the at least two probes are comprised in a device for measuring light in a medium by inserting the at least two probes into said medium, wherein each of the at least two probes comprises an emitter connected to a first waveguide emitting at the level of a detection zone a light beam directly onto said zone, and a second waveguide receiving perpendicular to its aperture said light beam sent back to a receiver for analysis; said second waveguide containing at least one reflecting mirror reflecting the light beam by reflection, situated downstream of said detection zone; and wherein each of the at least two probes operates at the level of detection zones of the medium with distinct dimensions.