Investigation of Surakhani light crude oil compounds as a case study using modern spectroscopic techniques

Abstract

The complex application of modern analysis methods (FT-IR, NMR, GC–MS and UV/Vis) allowed us to study in detail the composition of the crude Surakhani light oil with a complex composition. An accurate and comprehensive study of the composition of crude oils makes it easier to fnd the necessary feld of application for them. For this purpose, the studied crude oil was separated into two fractions, such as parafnic–naphthenic and aromatic (groups 1st, 2nd, 3rd and tar), by absorption column chromatography. The results show that Surakhani light oil is a parafn–naphthene-based oil that contains 74% of parafn–naphthene, 11.15% of aromatic hydrocarbons and 14.8% of gases. It has been shown that the aromatic group of compounds is mainly composed of mono- and bicyclic compounds and has alkyl chains with diferent lengths and branches (with the presence of methylene and methine groups). Based on the parameters of the structural group, it was found that the portion of H atoms in the aromatic nucleus and alkyl chain was 4.4–20.1% and 79.9–95.6%, respectively. The degree of aromaticity of the separated aromatic group is approximately 50%, which proves that these compounds are alkylated. The structure of the isolated parafn–naphthene fraction has also been investigated by spectroscopic techniques, and it has been determined that this fraction is composed of iso- and cycloalkanes with alkyl chains of diferent lengths. As it is seen from the obtained results, unlike the other oils existing on the Absheron Peninsula, Surakhani light oil consists of one- and two-ring naphthene and isostructured parafnic hydrocarbons. The composition of this petroleum mainly consists of isosubstituted alkyl cycloalkanes and relict, viz. biologically active hydrocarbons such as sterane and hopane used in medicine. It seems that the methodology developed for the petroleum industry can be used in other felds such as medicine.