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Density is an important parameter for understanding molecular packing, stability, and reactivity of petroleum fractions. The determination of density for extremely viscous residual fractions measured at high temperature (reduced viscosity) is difficult and prone to error if results are extrapolated to lower temperature ranges. This problem is addressed in the present study with fractions derived from virgin and visbroken Athabasca vacuum residua. Solution pycnometry (toluene solvent) was studied and demonstrated a feasible, fast, simple, and reliable technique, applicable to a wide variety of petroleum materials, including asphaltenes and vacuum residua. Reported densities were affected to the third decimal position [American Petroleum Institute (API) gravities found reliable to (0.15°API]. The density for mixtures of residual oil fractions was determined to be an additive property. Athabasca vacuum residue solvent deasphalting and thermal cracked fractions are studied. Thermal cracking was observed to increase asphaltene densities to values as high as those displayed by coals, suggesting that highly aromatic-condensed structures represent these species better. Further application of the methodology is illustrated by monitoring Athabasca bitumen upgrading at bench scale.

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