ABSTRACT
The last chapter dealt with some bulk properties of petroleum. Here we take the next step in the characterization of heavy petroleum fractions, that is, determination of paraffinic, naphthenic, and aromatic carbon on the one hand and of carbon in certain structural groups on the other hand. Examples of the latter category are methyl, methylene, methine groups, aliphatic groups next to aromatic rings or farther away, long alkyl chains, and chain branch points. Not only can the presence or absence of these groups be ascertained, but also their abundance in the sample.
