EFFECT OF β-CYCLODEXTRIN AND LACTIC ACID-BASED SUPRADES ON ASPHALTENE AGGREGATION PROCESSES

Abstract

Asphaltene precipitation and aggregation complicate petroleum production, transport, and refining. Aim. To evaluate β-cyclodextrin–L-lactic-acid SUPRADES as a modifier of asphaltene aggregation in model oil prepared from Karazhanbas crude oil. Methods. Asphaltenes were isolated according to GOST 11858-66. SUPRADES was prepared at a 1:60 molar ratio and characterized by FT-IR, UV–Vis, thermogravimetry, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR, including COSY, HMQC, and HMBC. Results and discussion. FT-IR indicated a hydrogen-bonded network, TGA revealed multistage decomposition, and NMR confirmed the lactic-acid fragment and its principal correlations. Near 292 nm, absorbance decreased from approximately 0.88 to 0.59 after SUPRADES addition, an apparent decrease of about 33%. Because replicate-level variability was unavailable, the comparison is semiquantitative. Conclusion. The system may modify asphaltene aggregation, but quantitative inhibition must be confirmed at defined concentrations with independent replicates.