Investigation of the demulsification of water-in-oil emulsions formed when crude oil or fuel oil is spilt on the sea

Technical Report ·

OSTI ID:5493508

Lee, M A

The highly viscous water-in-oil emulsions, formed when crude or fuel oil is spilt at sea, are difficult to collect, and expensive to transport as they contain 50 to 80% water. Laboratory experiments have been carried out to determine the factors to be considered in the demulsification of these emulsions. The important factors were found to be the choice and amount of demulsifier, the temperature, and the time amount of mixing during the addition of the demulsifier. These preliminary findings will be used to develop large-scale demulsification systems for use at sea and on the beach, during collection of the emulsions. (Copyright (c) Crown Copyright 1980.)

• Research Organization: Warren Spring Lab., Stevenage (UK)
• OSTI ID: 5493508
• Report Number(s): PB-83-260018
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
OIL SPILLS
CLEANING
PETROLEUM
EMULSIONS
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
FUEL OILS
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
WATER POLLUTION
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
LIQUID FUELS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
020800* - Petroleum- Waste Management
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)