ALL meanings of asphaltene
as·phal·tene
A a - noun asphaltene any of the constituents of a bitumen, as asphalt, that are insoluble in pentane, hexane, or naphthalene. 1
- noun asphaltene (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. 0