Bitumen’s chemical composition is extremely complex. According to the most accepted analysis, bitumen can be divided into the following three main fractions.
i. Asphaltenes.
ii. Maltenes.
iii. Carbenes.
Asphaltenes are insoluble in light hydrocarbon solvents, such as petroleum either. Maltenes are soluble in hydrocarbon solvents but carbenes fraction is in soluble in carbon tetrachloride. Maltenes consists of four elements namely nitrogen base, first acidaffins, second acidaffins and Paraffins.
The malten fraction may be further sub-divided into resins and oils, and one method that have been used to absorb the resin constituent on an active power such as Fuller’s earth.
Asphaltene fraction together with a part of the maltene fraction forms the dispersed phase. The lower molecular weight maltenes are assumed to from the continuous phase.
Asphaltenes are considered to be small particles surrounded by a resin coating. The oil serves as a medium in which the asphaltene resin can exist. Asphaltenes contribute body, resins furnish adhesiveness and ductility, and oils influence viscosity and flow.
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