Abstract
Four different asphaltenes were separated from Egyptian crudes and employed as gas chromatography (GC) adsorbents. Each asphaltene was used to coat (10% by wt) chromosorb-p having 100-120 mesh size and packed into a 1/4" × 7′ stainless steel column. Asphaltene columns are found to be highly efficient in the separation of some condensed ring compounds, homologous series of alkylated and halogenaled benzenes, some ketones, C
3
-C
5
alcohols, several halogenated alphatics, and cresols. This study reveals that asphaltenes are selective toward the separation of the given condensed ring compounds and have a normal behavior toward the other separations. Asphaltenes can be used as polyfunctional adsorbents for separating different compound classes.