Demulsification of Crude Oil Emulsions Using Versatile and Eco-Friendly Demulsifiers Based on Cellulose Decorated with Imidazolium-Bearing Triazole Moiety

Water in the crude oil forms emulsions that must be broken before refining processes. Here, the novel and versatile derivatives of imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) containing triazole moiety [SIm-TazCn][Br] were synthesized via click chemistry and then grafted onto the cellulose (CEL) to prepare eco-friendly demulsifiers for breaking water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. The prepared compounds with two kinds of alkyl chains named CEL[SIm-TazC6][Br] and CEL[SIm-TazC10][Br] were characterized and employed for demulsifying W/O (30:70 and 50:50 vol %) emulsions. Also, the effect of the type and concentration of each demulsifier on the phase separation and dehydration efficiency (DE) were investigated through the bottle test. According to the bottle test results, the CEL[SIm-TazC6][Br] derivative at 4000 ppm showed a good DE of 79% after 5 min, which increased to 82% after 24 h. The interfacial tension (IFT) of derivatives at different concentrations was measured. The minimum IFT value of 16.3 mN/m was obtained for CEL[SIm-TazC6][Br] with a shorter alkyl chain at 4000 ppm after 24 h. The green and efficient CEL-based surfactants significantly demulsified the W/O emulsions because of the collaboration between imidazolium and triazole moieties.

Spectral, thermal and morphological studies of chromium nanoparticles

Cr(0) nanoparticles were synthesized by solution reduction process successfully. The influence of parameters on the size of Cr(0) nanoparticles was studied and the referential process parameters were obtained. The morphology and structure of the synthesized Cr(0) nanoparticles were characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), QELS Data and Infrared Spectroscopy (IR). The results show that Cr(0) nanoparticles are of high purity. XRD analysis revealed all relevant Bragg's reflection for crystal structure of Cr metal. XRD spectrum also indicates that there is no oxidation of Cr(0) nanoparticles to chromium oxide. TEM showed nearly uniform distribution of particles in methanol which was confirmed by QELS. Cr(0) nanoparticles can be synthesized easily by reducing agent and are quite stable too.