asphaltene
English edit
Etymology edit
Noun edit
asphaltene (plural asphaltenes)
- (organic chemistry) Any of the dark organic constituents of crude oils and bitumen that are soluble in aromatic solvents but not in aliphatic ones; they are polycyclic aromatic compounds (composed of fused benzene rings) with aliphatic side chains
- 1979, Perry Nowacki, Coal liquefaction processes - Volume 131, page 157:
- In the deasphalter the more polar asphaltenes form a second liquid phase which effectively agglomerates the solids in the oil feed.