Rapid Bulk Fractionation of Maltenes into Saturates, Aromatics, and Resins by Flash Chromatography

Flash chromatography was used to fractionate the maltenic portion of bitumen. The method uses a dry chromatographic support rather than a chromatographic gel. The development of the method is described along with the effect of a number of parameters on the purity of the fractions, namely, the effect of bitumen concentration, settling time in n-heptane, filter size, support type, and mesh size. The method was used to fractionate the maltenes …