| Juyal, P., McKenna, A.M., Yen, A., Rodgers, R.P., Reddy, C.M., Nelson, R.K., Andrews, A.B., Atolia, E., Allenson, S.J., Mullins, O.C., Marshall, A.G.,, Analysis and Identification of Biomarkers and Origin of Color in a Bright Blue Crude Oil. , Energy Fuels 25(1), 172-182., 2011
We describe the detailed anal. and characterization of an unusual blue crude oil and a deposit from the monoethylene glycol (MEG) regeneration unit (MRU) on an offshore crude oil prodn. platform. To characterize the deposit and the components in the crude oil that give it such a distinct blue hue, we investigated the samples with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatog. (GC × GC), Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), and two-dimensional (2D) fluorescence spectroscopy. Perylene, a polycyclic arom. hydrocarbon, known to fluoresce, was identified in the crude oil with all three of these techniques. On the basis of its photochem. properties and abundance (55 ppm), we infer perylene to be the most likely source of the blue color. In addn., we were able to conclusively identify by GC × GC a suite of pentacyclic triterpenoids, of which the most abundant species was 17α(H),21β(H)-25-norhopane. The deposit is greatly enriched in these species. The presence of 25-norhopanes in a crude oil is considered as an indication for severe biodegrdn. |
