Sample age e ﬀ ect on parameters of dynamic nuclear polarization in certain di ﬂ uorobenzen isomers/MC800 asphaltene suspensions

: Because of magnetic spin – spin interactivity between 19 F nucleus of the solvent and delocalized elec trons on the MC800 asphaltene, the Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization ( DNP ) method is able to give a sub stantial boost in the signal acquired from studies focused on nuclear magnetic resonance ( NMR ) . The suspensions of asphaltene in di ﬂ uorobenzene isomers were studied using Overhauser e ﬀ ect type DNP and NMR investiga tions at room temperature in a small magnetic ﬁ eld of 1.53 mT. The used asphaltene was obtained from MC800 liquid asphalt from Heavy Iran. Each sample of the sol vent medium was produced at three di ﬀ erent concentra tions of asphaltene. These samples were stored in the refrigerator for 7 years, until DNP parameters were found by new DNP tests. As a result, the in ﬂ uence of sample age on parameters of DNP was studied, and then the ﬁ ndings were analyzed.


Introduction
Asphaltene is the heaviest and most viscous aromatic component of crude oil. It is also the most polar component, being soluble in aromatic solvents such as toluene and xylene but insoluble in normal aliphatic hydrocarbons such as n-heptane and n-hexane [1][2][3]. Asphaltene precipitates only when unstable. Its stability is affected by different parameters, including the pressure, temperature, and characteristics of crude oil mixtures [4,5].
Asphaltenes, are a part of petroleum, are considered to be polar species, have greater aromatic complexes, and consist of heteroatoms (e.g., O, S, and N), alkyl chains, and certain metals [6]. Asphaltenes have unpaired electrons, which are observed in crude petroleum by using the electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments [7].
Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) uses liquid state interactions between nucleus and unpaired electron spins to produce enhanced nuclear polarization after the saturation of ESR radical transitions. The maximum DNP enhancement rate of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal is calculated by the electron-to-nuclear gyromagnetic ratio, γe/γn. For 19 F spin, this ratio is 700.
It becomes apparent that studies of the coupling between I, nuclear spin reservoir, and S, electronic spin reservoir, may put forward an insight into the dynamics and structure of these sophisticated materials. The magnetic interaction, which is the source of DNP, between the nucleus and unpaired electron, is much stronger than the inter-nuclear interaction experienced in brood solvent region. The intensities and spectral densities of the intermolecular scalar could arise from direct contact between the solvent nuclei and unpaired electrons of the radical or from a temporary overlap of the delocalized molecular orbitals during the diffusion process [8][9][10]. The overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization type mechanism (ODNP) for the hyperpolarization should be the most efficient as crude oil is historically treated as a viscous liquid [11]. As the comparatively high mobility of oil molecules, including radicals, requires an appropriate regulation of electron-nuclear interaction, this condition leads to an efficient propagation of polarization between nuclei and electrons in oil. The main aspect of ODNP is that when the microwave pumping frequency is in precisely the same resonance as the EPR transition, the full effect of electron polarization conversion on the nuclear system is obtained. In fact, as early as the 1950s, Poindexter [12,13] recorded Overhauser form of DNP in the external magnetic field B 0 = 18 G on protons of "light" or "medium" crude oils that have a viscosity of 25-40 mPa s.
The nuclear spins are the 19 F spins in this sample, and they are the 19 F center of the solvent medium, whereas the electron spins are the free electrons on the asphaltene micelles. Unpaired electrons have been dislocated to the unfilled carbon bonds of asphaltene particles compact aromatic structure [14]. We revealed a dipolar interaction between the solvent fluorine atoms and unpaired colloidal asphaltene electrons through the DNP process. In a low magnetic field, electron spin saturation, as well as DNP improvements, were achieved, and also DNP parameters have been determined.
This study aimed to investigate the DNP parameters (A ∞ , U ∞ , ρ, f, s, and K) of difluorobenzene isomer solvents in MC800 asphaltene free radical against time at room temperature at 1.53 mT low magnetic field.

Theory
The whole DNP phenomenon theory through the Overhauser effect in free radicals solutions has already been published in the technical literature [15][16][17][18][19][20]; thus, in this article, we present just a short overview of the theory that applies to our study. In Figure 1, a schematic display of a 1/2-spin and a two-spin electron system energy level is displayed. In this figure, m S and m I are, respectively, electron and nucleus magnetic quantum numbers.
The possibilities of transition through relaxation may be determined in this system as follows (Table 1).
Here, = ′ + ″ ⋅ ′ w w w w 2 1 1 1 1 corresponds to the transition probability owing to spin coupling of nuclear electron, and ″ w 2 1 denotes the probability of transition because of various processes of relaxation.
An expression for the motion equation of nuclear polarization (NP) is given as [21].
Π z and P z indicate the unpaired electron spins and the NP of the nuclear spins.
2 stands for the leakage factor, which reveals the degree of efficiency that electron spins relax nuclear spins. The above-mentioned leakage factor is ranging from 0 (no nuclear-electron coupling relaxation) and 1 (there is not any other relaxation mechanisms).
2 stands for the coupling factor of nuclear-electron that relies on the type of nuclearelectron interactivity. Here, ρ may range between +0.5 that corresponds to purely dipolar interactivities and −1 that corresponds to purely scalar interactivities. Finally, s = (Π 0 -Π z )/Π 0 represents the saturation factor equivalent to 1 (0 ≤ s ≤ 1) in full EPR saturation.
At the steady state, namely, dP z /dt = 0, the formulation of Overhauser enhancement factor is as follows: Here, γ I and γ S correspond to the gyromagnetic ratios of nucleus and electron in turn ( > γ 0 ). In the event that the saturation state is met, the reciprocal of the enhancement factor is demonstrated below which is extrapolated for infinite ESR power, There, f, leakage factor can be formulated as follows: Here ω S /ω I equals to 700 for 19 F nucleus.
caused by other processes. The leakage factor reciprocal is denoted as follows: 1 is proportionate to c, the concentration of electron spin (or free radical), alternatively. In this way, equation Here, the ultimate electron spin concentration is as follows: In the white spectral region, namely in extreme narrowing case ( In addition, an earlier study [22] denotes the K parameter that describes the relative significance of both scalar and translational dipolar interactivities, Here, ( ) J 0 1 D and ( ) J 0 Sc equal to the translational and scalar dipolar spectral density functions. Finally, K is computed by using the experimental ρ value at high temperatures and in weak fields [19,23,24] as follows: 3 Methods

Solvents and asphaltene
MC-800 liquid asphalt is used to obtain the asphaltene. The asphalt is dissolved in a tenfold excess volume of benzene and precipitated in a further tenfold excess volume of petroleum ether at a boiling temperature interval of 40 and 60°C (namely 1-volume asphalt, 10-volume benzene, and 100-volume petroleum ether) [25,26]. Filtration was used to collect the precipitate, which was then dried.
The resultant was a black semisolid asphaltene. Asphaltene made up 14% of the weight of MC-800 liquid asphalt. The solvents were obtained from Fluka (Switzerland) and Aldrich Chem. Co. (USA) and utilized exactly as they were supplied. The purities, viscosities, molecular weights,  Table 2. Figure 2 depicts the molecular structures of these solvents.

Preparation of the samples
The samples had been produced at three distinct degrees of radical concentration. The samples were sealed Pyrex tubes (18 mm diameter and resistant to liquid nitrogen temperature) after being degassed by means of minimum five freeze-pump-thaw cycles that uses liquid nitrogen at about 10 −5 Pa in a Leybold-Heraeus vacuum system. Figure 3 demonstrates how the samples were degassed and sealed in Pyrex tubes. The degassing process is required because the presence of oxygen in the sample prevents the EPR transition from being easily stimulated. To the naked eye, the solutions look substantially identical, as there is no apparent indication of fast flocculation.

Asphaltene characterization
The tests have been conducted in a low energy field, NMR spectrometer with double resonance, operating at 1.53 mT. The continuous-wave technology spectrometer has a resonance frequency of 45.5 MHz for electrons and 61.2 kHz for nucleus of 1 H. That field is generated by a coil system of Helmholtz that is supplied with a 2 A current. Within 10 −6 A, the magnet current is stabilized. To get a high signal-to-noise ratio, the field must also be very homogenous in terms of time and space. The signals have been detected using an amplitude modulation method and amplified in a low frequency and narrow-band amplifier, which is linked to a phase-sensitive detector (or lock-in detector) and a recorder. A digital sweep generator sweeps the external magnetic field [27]. The spectrometer also includes an automated temperature management mechanism that works with either liquid nitrogen vapor or hot airflow. Earlier studies also detailed the spectrometer [27][28][29].
The observations on the NMR pure and double resonance signals, each with signal intensity P o and P z , are considered in this spectrometer. The standard approach of amplification modulation produces the signals of the central bands, and also the first and second side bands. The P o and P z values of the central band derivatives were considered to represent peak-to-peak values.
In the liquid phase, the saturation tests were conducted with an accuracy of ±2°C. In each sample, P o was measured four-times at three distinct levels and at a room temperature of 25 ± 2°C, and P z from five distinct ESR power values were acquired to saturate the electronic spin polarization. Moreover, the radio frequency signal was received from the Rohde & Schwarz sml 01 signal generator within the ESR coil's frequency range of 25-60 MHz Figure 2: Structure of 1,2 difluorobenzene (ortho), 1,3 difluorobenzene (meta), and 1,4 difluorobenzene (para) molecules (green color "fluorine," blue color "hydrogen," and gray color "carbon").

Setting the DNP Parameters
To calculate the A ∞ values, the reciprocal of the enhancement factor (namely [(P z -P 0 )/P 0 ] −1 ) should be derived as a function of the ESR power's reciprocal value. In this context, ESR power is proportionate to either − H 1e 2 or − V eff 2 , where V eff value represents the high frequency voltage on the ESR coil. For complete ESR saturation, Π z value will be zero, and the saturation factor (s) will come close to 1. The ESR power needs to reach ∞, or − V eff 2 to 0, in order to achieve complete saturation. Therefore, the ∞  Figure 4 demonstrates the R 2 values to assess the consistency between the experimental points and the linear fit function. A maximum inaccuracy of approximately ±10% is found for a single point in the graphic.
In Figure 5 After U ∞ is determined, the nuclear-electron coupling parameter value ρ may be derived by using equation (8).
The / ∞ ∞ A U ratio that is calculated from equations (3) and (7) is used to achieve f value for each of the concentrations. Finally, by using the equations (2) and (3), the s value was attained from the enhancement factor A end for the maximum existing ESR power divided by ∞ A .
4 Results and discussion

EPR Spectra
To evaluate DNP parameters in the magnetic field, a free radical EPR spectrum is necessary. The solvents should not influence the ESR spectrum [19]. The EPR spectrum obtained in this study and the spectrum EPR produced by Kirimli and Ovalioglu [30] are displayed in Figure 6. The spectrum produced for asphaltene/meta-difluorobenzene at a 3.10 kg/m 3 concentration is optimally matched to observed values by a Gaussian, as shown in the Figure 6, and the resultant fit may be described by the following equation: The spectrum was portrayed as a single Gaussian generated via the superposition of several Lorentzians. Additionally, the measured values of these concentrations are fit with Gaussian functions given by the following equations:

DNP parameters
DNP parameters (A ∞ , U ∞ , ρ, f, s, and K) were attained again after 7 years, and the data obtained are listed in Table 3 and compared with previous data [31]. Experimental saturations range from 78 to 96%. All A ∞ and U ∞ parameters have negative values as P z and P 0 NMR signals are opposite to each other. The value of A ∞ varies between −3.7 and −5.6. As a result, the dipoledipole interactivity is dominant in the intermolecular spin-spin interactivity, which is proportionate to 1/r 3 . The reciprocal cube of the distance between the suspended fluid medium's fluorine spins and the delocalized unpaired electron spins on the partial carbon bonds of the asphaltene micelles' concentrated aromatic structure. The smallest ρ is obtained for the MC800 asphaltene/para-difluorobenzene asphalt suspensions. Here, all of the suspensions have positive ρ values, which shows that the dipolar interactivity is predominant. For difluorobenzene isomer solvents, the K parameters obtained through equation (10) range between 0.970 and 0.978. In this equation, smaller ρ values correlate to the greater K values and therefore make scalar interactivities more efficient. This shift in ρ with solvent indicates that a tighter touch takes place while natural resins arising from the asphaltene surface sections are peeled away. For a very short period, the molecules of the solvent may bind to the particles of colloidal asphaltene, namely liquid asphaltene, creating complexes and establishing scalar interactivities with a correlation period τ sc . For the same sample, specific solvent molecules are able to diffuse in and out of the asphaltene micelles while participating in dipolar interactivities with a correlation period τ d . Molecules of the solvent linked to the colloid follow the rotating model, whereas the solvent molecules not connected to the colloid follow the diffusion model [19]. In addition to the geometric distances,  Figure 6: The EPR spectrum acquired in the study (▯) and Kirimli's EPR spectrum (2014) (Δ) [30]. the closest effective distance among the interacting spins relies on the relocation of unpaid electrodes in the micelles of the asphaltene [19].
The DNP factor is varies with the concentration. When the interactivities are weak, f becomes close to zero, and although the interactivities are strong, f equals to one. The rise in A ∞ is proportional to the increase in concentration.
The atom substituents of fluorine are found in the solvent molecules. ρ fluctuates in the range of 0.007 and 0.010 as the count of fluorine atoms in fluorobenzene derivatives with strongly electronegative [32] substituents such as -f increases. These substituents that contain fluorine atoms were observed to have signal enhancement. For this reason, interactivities of the difluorobenzene isomers that contain asphaltene behave neither purely dipolar nor scalar. However, the -f substituents alter the benzene ring's chemical environment in a more effective way. With respect to the pure dipole-dipole interactivities for protons and a variety of scalar interactivity degrees of fluorine, the polarization level of 19 F was linked to the molecular characteristics of fluorocarbon solvents [33].
If a single fluorine substituent is located in a better location in a molecule, it may affect the physical and chemical characteristics of the molecule significantly. In the literature, there are many researches about the effect of fluorine on the chemical and physical characteristics for compounds. Probably, 19 F is the nucleus that is examined most in NMR after carbon and hydrogen due to its magnetic features and the significance of molecules consist of fluorine. Some of the advantages of the 19 F nucleus are as follows: it is plentiful in the nature with a 100% purity, its spin value is I = 1/2, and it has a high-level magnetogyric ratio that is equivalent to 0.94 of the magnetogyric ratio of 1 H [34].

Conclusion
The following results are obtained as a result of the experimental study that is conducted in line with the aim of this study.
To study colloidal suspensions solvent mediums of MC800 asphaltene consisting of 1,2 difluorobenzene, 1,3 difluorobenzene, and 1,4 difluorobenzene. Overhauser affect type DNP method is utilized at room temperature in a 1.53 mT low-level magnetic field. For testing environment, at each solvent medium sample, three different concentrations of asphaltene was used. Consequently, there were nine samples in total. In the EPR spectrum of the asphaltenes, the spectrum of MC800 asphaltene in the 1,3 difluorobenzene solvent medium was discovered to be a single Gaussian peaking about 45.5 MHz. The pattern of the EPR spectrum agrees well with findings of Kirimli's study (2014) [30].
In the study, ρ value, namely the nuclear-electron coupling parameter, was observed to be lower after samples that had produced a colloidal 1,2 difluorobenzene, 1,3 difluorobenzene, and 1,4 difluorobenzene solvent media of MC 800 asphaltene for 7 years. The nuclear-electron coupling parameter ρ ranges between pure dipolar value of +0.5 and pure scalar value of −1.0 in low magnetic fields, and the new ρ values discovered to be within these limits. In our experimentation, new ρ values are found to be positive, which suggests that the dipolar portion in spinspin interactivities is prevalent. K value depicts the significance of almost all the samples according to the scalar coupling parameter. In other words, in awaited samples, the scalar section of the intermolecular spin-spin interactivities rises, and the dipolar section of the interactivities diminishes. For the 1,4 difluorobenzene solution medium, the lowest absolute U∞ value (thus, ρ value as well) has been achieved. This suggests that the asphaltene has been much more efficiently dispersed and suspended by 1,2-difluorobenzene and 1,3-difluorobenzene. In other respects, in terms of electrical dipole moment value, the 1,4 difluorobenzene has the lowest value.
We think that in biological samples, comprehensive information about the chemical environment may be acquired using free radicals and aromatic fluorinated solvents that are predisposed to the scalar interactivity in EPR oximetry, which is promoted through the Overhauser effect [31,35].
This research makes a positive contribution to the study of the asphaltene surface and aids related research with DNP findings. Furthermore, DNP investigations are helpful applications for the empirical characterization of asphaltene solutions. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the study reported in this article.
Ethical approval: The conducted research is not related to either human or animal use. Data availability statement: In this article, it is okay to use Figures 5 and 6, quoted from reference [30], of which I am the author.