We report confocal laser-scanning microscopy studies (three-dimensional images and spectra) of two classes of samples: (i) light and heavy crude oil, and (iii) the corresponding asphaltene precipitates, which were prepared by a Standard Method. For samples (i), the images largely indicate homogeneity in three dimensions at the micrometer scale. On the other hand, the emitted/scattered light spectra � obtained from the wavelength-resolved confocal images � differ: a red-shift is observed in going from the light to the heavy crude oil. Analysis of asphaltene precipitates indicates heterogeneous sample morphology at the micrometer scale; the corresponding spectra differ from that of crude oil even in the visible spectral range. These findings are consistent with two-dimensional analyses of fluorescence spectra of bulk samples, which highlight a correlation between incident and scattered light frequencies in the visible.

3D images and spectra of light/heavy crude oil and asphaltene aggregates: A comparative study

245th National Meeting (2013)

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