Aims:
a) Identifying typical asphaltene architectures based on published structures (example of a potential structure in figure 1) and design synthesis routes to prepare the model structures on the mg-scale;
b) Undertake physicochemical characterization of the model structures and compare to the behaviour of asphaltenes in solvents of different aromaticity (DLS, SAXS);
c) Using a structure-activity based design approach to synthesise small dispersant molecules that stabilise model asphaltenes in solution;
d) Understanding the surface science and bulk behaviour of the new dispersants when interacting with the model compounds.

Global trade heavily depends on the marine sector with 80% (by volume) of the world's merchandise carried by sea. 1 14% of all GHG emissions are due to transportation, and while the internal combustion engine is being phased-out in light vehicles, the marine sector has made little progress as it faces substantial technological barriers to implement low-carbon alternatives. Shipping accounts for 3-5% of global CO2 and GHG emissions, with 90% of global SO2 emissions originating from the marine sector. 2 To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, the sulphur content in fuel oil is to be dramatically lowered under the IMO2020 regulation. 3 However, the new fuel composition has led to poor fuel and engine performance linked to the stability of asphaltenes. The project will provide new direction in fuel additive design to enhance fuel performance and reduce emissions.

Methodology:
The research will adopt an approach of make-measure-model to elucidate the chemistry of asphaltene molecules that governs stability and deposition behaviour in aromatic-aliphatic solvents. The synthesis of model asphaltene molecules will enable tuneable physicochemical properties, demonstrating the critical role of asphaltenes molecular weight, polyaromatic core structure, heteroatom content, metal content, and functional group chemistry on the aggregation kinetics and deposition properties. The research requires the development of novel synthesis routes to prepare a library of asphaltene model compounds. These compounds will be examined using a range of experimental techniques including: dynamic light scattering, small angle X-ray scattering, quartz crystal microbalance, stability analyzers, and atomic force microscopy. The research will be complemented by molecular modeling to identify appropriate modes of intervention to effectively stabilize the different model compounds.