Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Demulsification of highly stable water-in-oil emulsions

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Turgay Pekdemir, Professor Galip Akay, Dr Murat Dogru

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Emulsification and subsequent separation characteristics of water-incrude-oil emulsions are studied using crude oil from the Norsk Hydro, Norway. In particular, the effects of high pressure, carbon dioxide gas, and electric field on the de-emulsification of water-in-crude-oil emulsions are considered. Emulsions of varying degree of stability were produced, and their natural separation rate under gravity was recorded. Emulsions of known separation characteristics were prepared and subjected to separation tests with electrostatic field, surfactant de-emulsifiers, and high pressure in the absence or presence of carbon dioxide. Purpose-built equipment was used in the electric field and pressure experiments. The different levels of emulsion stability were found to depend on the composition of the oil sample as well as the processing conditions. The heavy fractions formed emulsions much more readily and were significantly more stable. The separation enhancement was achieved through the application of high pressures to the emulsions. But the high pressure was not sufficient to have any significant impact when the emulsion was highly stable. The addition of carbon dioxide from a 50-bar supply did not have any effect, adverse or otherwise, on this improvement. Tests with application of a high-voltage electrostatic field on the oil revealed that lower-stability emulsions at least are susceptible to this method of separation. A number of chemicals were also used as chemical de-emulsifiers and were found to have no effect on enhancing the separation. These studies were conducted in order to provide the background for the intensification of the oil/water separation technique developed by the authors.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Pekdemir T, Akay G, Dogru M, Merrells RE, Schleicher B

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Separation Science and Technology

Year: 2003

Volume: 38

Issue: 5

Pages: 1161-1183

Print publication date: 01/01/2003

ISSN (print): 0149-6395

ISSN (electronic): 1520-5754

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Inc.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1081/SS-120018129

DOI: 10.1081/SS-120018129


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share