Structure Characterization and Solubility Analysis of the Existent Gum of the Fischer–Tropsch Synthetic Crude

[Image: see text] The existent gum content of the Fisher–Tropsch synthetic crude exceeded the standard seriously, affecting its transportation and use. To determine the structure of the existent gum extracted from the Fisher–Tropsch synthetic crude, elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to determine the chemical structure of the gum. The Brown–Ladner method is used to calculate the average structural parameters and the average molecular formula of the existent gum. The results show that the existent gum of the Fisher–Tropsch synthetic crude is composed of heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and short-carbon paraffins. Compared with petroleum gums and coal tar gums, the existent gum content of the Fisher–Tropsch synthetic crude has the characteristics of high aromaticity, short side chains, and nitrogen-containing heterocycles. After being oxidized, its aromaticity further increases, more closed loops are formed, and the side chain is further shortened. This is caused by a complex oxidation reaction during the oxidation process. Molecular dynamics simulation calculations were performed to reveal the T-stacked morphology of the existent gum of the Fisher–Tropsch synthetic crude in a mixed solvent of acetone and toluene.