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Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) can be used to obtain a variety of thermodynamic or kinetic data of petroleum products. The application of DSC to petroleum fluids includes characterization of crude oils, studying bulk and confined space phase behavior of hydrocarbons, and evaluating the glass transition in crude oils. In addition, the kinetic data of the pyrolysis, combustion, and oxidation of crude oils can be obtained using DSC. In this work, a comprehensive review of the application of DSC to petroleum-based products is provided that integrates different approaches in the literature in order to provide a constructive platform for future studies. Also, the limitations of the method are elaborated in detail, and recommendations are provided to appropriately optimize the accuracy and applicability of DSC to study petroleum products. The impact of different operating parameters in using DSC including the thermal scanning rate, pressure, modulating temperature program, and analysis method is systematically discussed. Also, the effect of neglecting thermal radiation in DSC experiments is highlighted to ensure that future studies consider this important phenomenon once analyzing the raw data. As well, the advantage of coupling DSC with other analytical techniques is carefully reviewed to underline that precious information that can be obtained once DSC is integrated with other methods. This comprehensive review expresses that DSC has different themes of applications to the research and development in petroleum industry. Due to its simplicity, precious and rapid data collection features, DSC is one of the primary methods for characterizing petroleum fluids. Yet, further advancements both in the equipment design and in data analysis is urged to improve the applicability of DSC to crude oils and their fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of DSC to oil field includes characterization and phase behavior study of crude oils and their fractions, developing structural and morphological fingerprint of petroleum fluids and wax crystallization study of crudes. Also DSC can be used to study kinetics of pyrolysis, combustion and oxidation of crudes. In this study, microstructural analysis and wax crystallization of crudes are critically reviewed and the leading research works in each field are comprehensively integrated to provide an instructive encyclopedia for future studies. The challenges and opportunities to improve in every section are discussed in detail to address the potential hindrances of using DSC and tackle hesitance for future use of the technique. The integrative approach not only covers the key outcomes of different studies, but also allows one to construct novel experiments with implementing connected researches in the past. In addition, possibility of linking DSC with other methods in order to either improve or broaden the applicability of the technique is overviewed and elaborated. Different operating parameters in using DSC including thermal scanning program, pressure, initial conditions, constant heating/cooling rate, type of thermal program effect and raw data analysis are carefully discussed and the effect of each parameter on the outcome of the studies is systematically expounded. This comprehensive and integrative study shows that although the application of DSC is mature in some fields, its precision is at infancy and developments such as modulated thermal programs can vastly enhance its applicability and accuracy at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]