Derivative UV-Vis spectroscopy of asphaltenes solutions for the determination of the composition

Derivative UV-vis spectroscopy increases the resolution of the bands obtained in a zero-order using the first and second derivative. The first derivative of UV-vis spectrum of asphaltenes solutions allows identification of 5 maximums: to 225 nm benzenic compounds, to 259 nm naphthenic compounds, to 295 nm phenanthrene, to 328 nm for linear three-ring aromatic chromophores and by most compact four-ring chromophores and 401 nm for vanadium petroporfirins. Calculation of the form factor indicates the presence of suspended colloids and particles. The results obtained confirm the presence of archipelago-type architecture in the asphaltenes analyzed.