asphaltene

[as-fawl-teen or, esp. British, -fal-]

noun Chemistry.

any of the constituents of a bitumen, as asphalt, that are insoluble in pentane, hexane, or naphthalene.

Compare petrolene.

Origin of asphaltene

First recorded in 1830–40; asphalt + -ene

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for asphaltene

Historical Examples of asphaltene

According to others, asphaltum consists almost entirely of asphaltene.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I
Arnold Cooley