asphaltene noun1 •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 chainsIn the deasphalter the more polar asphaltenes form a second liquid phase which effectively agglomerates the solids in the oil feed. — 1979 formsasphaltenes
