Characterization of dispersed three-phase systems with applications to solids-stabilized emulsions
The factor affecting the formation and stability of emulsions stabilized by finely solid particles were investigated. For the water-in-oil emulsions that were studied, the three-phase contact angle, the ratio of water drop diameter to particle diameter (size ratio) and the interaction between particles at the oil-water interface were found to be important. A free energy analysis was conducted on the process of particle transfer from an oil to a water drop. The transfer became more favorable as the size ratio increased and as the solids became more hydrophilic. A model was suggested to explain the phenomenon of oil loss associated with the separation of solids-stabilized emulsions. The oil loss was found to increase with the size ratio and was not very strongly dependent on the contact angle. The demulsification of water-in-shale oil emulsions was also optimized with respect to demulsifier concentration, speed of agitation and temperature. The adsorption behavior of shale asphaltenes and maltenes on sodium montmorillonite and its influence on particle wettability were studied to ascertain the contribution of contact angle to emulsion stability. Process modifications through the use of pH control, surfactant and other additives were devised. A new technique was developed to measure the film tension between a coalescing water drop and a planar oil-water interface covered with particles. The interaction energy of the particles at the interface was also estimated. The effect of interfacial particle packing density, pH, surfactant and demulsifier on the film tension and particle interaction energy were assessed.
- Research Organization:
- Illinois Inst. of Tech., Chicago (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7051391
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
040402* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Surface Methods
ADDITIVES
ADSORPTION
ASPHALTENES
ASPHALTS
BITUMENS
COLLOIDS
DEMULSIFICATION
DEMULSIFIERS
DISPERSIONS
EMULSIONS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FREE ENERGY
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INTERFACES
LOSSES
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MINERAL OILS
OIL SHALE PROCESSING PLANTS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICLES
PH VALUE
PHASE STUDIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SHALE OIL
SIZE
SORPTION
STABILITY
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACE TENSION
SURFACTANTS
TAR
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
WATER