Dynamics of emulsification and demulsification of water in crude oil emulsions

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie00029a025· OSTI ID:7041157

Bhardwaj, A; Hartland, S ^[1]

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1. Swiss Federal Inst. of Tech., Zurich (Switzerland). Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Chemistry

The effect of aging on the crude oil/water interface has been studied, and the slow buildup of natural surfactants present in the crude oil at the interface was observed. Interfacial tension data and microvideography were used to evaluate the buildup of surface concentration. The methodology adopted in this work permits the calculation of the actual surface excess of natural surfactants at the crude oil/water interface, without having to isolate them from the crude oil and without knowing their bulk molar concentration. The rate of adsorption of demulsifier at the interface was determined by measurement of the dynamic interfacial tension by a microprocessor-controlled drop volume method apparatus. Temperature, concentration, and nature of the medium (crude oil or brine) were found to be very important parameters governing adsorption of demulsifier at the interface. Diffusion of the emulsifier to the oil/water interface was much slower when demulsifier was present in the oil phase than when it was present in the water phase.

• OSTI ID: 7041157
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States), Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States) Vol. 33:5; ISSN IECRED; ISSN 0888-5885
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400* -- Petroleum-- Processing
DEMULSIFICATION
DIFFUSION
EMULSIFICATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUID MECHANICS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
INTERFACES
MEASURING METHODS
MECHANICS
PETROLEUM
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACE TENSION
SURFACTANTS