Use of Liquid Chromatography in the Characterization of Asphalts

Abstract

A rapid separation of asphalt by functionality has been carried out using preparative-scale and analytical-scale HPLC. The HPLC technique separates asphalts into saturates, aromatics, polar aromatics, monophenols, nitrogen heterocyclic aromatics, polyphenols, and high molecular weight highly functional molecules. Analysis of two asphalts of different performance characteristics revealed appreciable differences in composition. Data from additional asphalt samples will be required to relate composition to performance.