Demulsification performance, behavior and mechanism of different demulsifiers on the light crude oil emulsions

Abstract Chemical demulsifiers were widely applied for demulsification of crude oil emulsions which were generally formed with natural stabilizers during the extraction. Based on our previous study of the light crude oil emulsions stability, the demulsification performance of four classes of nonionic poly(ethylene oxide) poly(propylene oxide) copolymer demulsifiers and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as well as their dynamic demulsification process on the W/O light crude oil emulsion were analyzed by the multiple light scattering method. The demulsification mechanism of these demulsifiers were illuminated by the measurement of dynamic interfacial tension (IFT), dynamic interfacial viscoelasticity, rupture rate and microscopic changes of oil film by single droplet method. The results have shown that demulsification performance doesn’t depend on IFT, though effective demulsifiers could have a lower IFT around 1 mN/m. Multiple light scattering data and dynamic IFT clarified the demulsification process of efficient demulsifiers, quick diffusion and adsorption of demulsifiers, palpable change in interfacial property, droplet coalescence and sedimentation. The capacities of demulsifiers to penetrate into the interface and to decrease the interfacial viscoelasticity were the dominating demulsification mechanisms. The quantitative interpretation of multiple light scattering data associated with the dynamic IFT and interfacial viscoelasticity illuminated the demulsification mechanism of different demulsifiers. The rupture rate and dynamic rupture process of the oil film between the aqueous phases also vividly showed the differences in demulsification process. The nonionic demulsifiers AR902 and PR929 with aromatic groups has the highest speed and best performance due to the similar aromatic groups with those in asphaltenes, which produced the least stable oil film. This study provides a valuable guideline for the selection of demulsifier for light crude oil emulsions and enhanced demulsification mechanism studies.