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plural asphaltenes
(organic chemistry) Any of the dark organic constituents of crude oils and bitumen that are soluble in aromatic solvents but not in aliphatic ones; they are polycyclic aromatic compounds (composed of fused benzene rings) with aliphatic side chains quotations examples
In the deasphalter the more polar asphaltenes form a second liquid phase which effectively agglomerates the solids in the oil feed.
1979, Perry Nowacki, Coal liquefaction processes - Volume 131, page 157