1
|
Sun H, Li X. Enhanced demulsification of alkaline-surfactant-polymer flooding O/W emulsion by multibranched polyether-polyquaternium based on the size effect of oil droplets. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142768. [PMID: 38969221 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
In the alkaline-surfactant-polymer flooding emulsion, oil droplets with various sizes exhibited different interfacial properties, resulting in different stabilization and destabilization behaviors. In view of this, it is expected to achieve outstanding oil-water separation efficiency by screening targeted demulsifier for oil droplets with different size ranges (0-1, 1-5 and 5-10 μm). Based on the size effect of oil droplets, a series of multibranched polyether-polyquaternium demulsifiers that integrated different charge neutralization and interfacial displacement functionalities were designed by regulating the cationicity and EO:PO ratios. As a result, the most effective polyether-polyquaternium variant for each size range of oil droplet was screened out. By employing these three selected polyether-polyquaternium variants in a sequential batch demulsification test, the maximum demulsification efficiency of 95.1% was obtained, which was much higher than that using a single polyether-polyquaternium variant (82.5%, 80.5% and 83.8%). The adsorption behaviors of polyether-polyquaternium variants on the oil/water interface were investigated by the molecular dynamics simulation. Moreover, the interfacial properties and oil droplet size variations during the demulsification process were monitored, so as explore the demulsification mechanism. This demulsification protocol based on the size effect of oil droplets with its excellent oil-water separation performance offered significant technical promise for the emulsified oil wastewater disposal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Sun
- National Engineering Research Center of Coal Preparation and Purification, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Coking Coal Resources Green Exploitation, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China; School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaobing Li
- National Engineering Research Center of Coal Preparation and Purification, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Coking Coal Resources Green Exploitation, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China; School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yan D, Yin K, He Y, Liu Y, Wang L, Deng Q, He J, Awan SU, Khalil ASG. Recent advances in functional micro/nanomaterials for removal of crude oil via thermal effects. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:7341-7362. [PMID: 38511991 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr00501e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Crude oil is one of the most widely used energy and industrial raw materials that is crucial to the world economy, and is used to produce various petroleum products. However, crude oil often spills during extraction, transportation and use, causing negative impacts on the environment. Thus, there is a high demand for products to remediate leaked crude oil. Among them, oleophilic and hydrophobic adsorbents can absorb crude oil through thermal effects and are research hotspots. In this review, we first present an overview of wettability theory, the heating principles of various thermal effects, and the theory of reducing crude oil viscosity by heating. Then we discuss adsorbents based on different heating methods including the photothermal effect, Joule heating effect, alternating magnetic field heating effect, and composite heating effect. Preparation methods and oil adsorption performance of adsorbents are summarized. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of various heating methods are briefly summarized, as well as the prospects for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duanhong Yan
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic and Devices, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
| | - Kai Yin
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic and Devices, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Manufacturing for Extreme Service Performance, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Yuchun He
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic and Devices, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
| | - Yao Liu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic and Devices, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
| | - Lingxiao Wang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic and Devices, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
| | - Qinwen Deng
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic and Devices, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
| | - Jun He
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic and Devices, School of Physics, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
| | - Saif Ullah Awan
- Department of Electrical Engineering, NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 54000, Pakistan
| | - Ahmed S G Khalil
- Institute of Basic and Applied Sciences, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), 179 New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt
- Environmental and Smart Technology Group, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum 63514, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dehghanghadikolaei A, Abdul Halim B, Sojoudi H. Impact of Processing Parameters on Contactless Emulsification via Corona Discharge. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:24931-24941. [PMID: 37483189 PMCID: PMC10357431 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
A contactless emulsification method is presented using corona discharge. The corona discharge forms using a pin-to-plate configuration, creating a non-uniform electric field. This results in a simultaneous electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pumping of silicone oil and an electroconvection of water droplets that accelerate and submerge inside the oil, leading to a continuous water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion formation process. The impact of the oil viscosity and corona generating AC and DC electric fields (i.e., voltage and frequency) on the characteristics of the emulsions is studied. The emulsification power consumption using the AC and DC electric fields is calculated and compared to traditional emulsion formation methods. While using the DC electric field results in the formation of uniform emulsions, the AC electric field is readily available and uses less power for the emulsification. This is facile, contactless, and energy-efficient for the continuous formation of W/O emulsions.
Collapse
|
4
|
Tang Q, Cui X, Hu Z, Lu S, Wang C, Tang J. Contactless Discharge-Driven Method for Separation of Oil-Water Mixtures. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1652. [PMID: 36296005 PMCID: PMC9610453 DOI: 10.3390/mi13101652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Oil-water separation technology has potential applications in wastewater treatment, petroleum refining and edible oil processing. As the ultimate means in oil-water treatment, electrostatic coalescence technology has been widely used in oil fields and refineries. However, the technology has many problems, such as complex processes, electrode corrosion, and the inability to treat high-water-cut crude oil emulsions. Here, we propose a contactless method of oil-water separation by corona discharge. With corona discharge of a needle-plate electrode configuration, the oil droplet diffuses to the ITO glass surface and the water droplet oscillates at the edge of the PET film. Here, such droplet behaviors are described in detail. Based on the motion behavior of the oil and water droplet, we designed an efficient oil-water separation device. After the oil-water mixture passes through the device, the oil content in the oil region can reach 99.25% with a voltage of 8 kV. In addition, the separation speed of the oil-water mixture can also be adjusted by varying the corona discharge voltage. This paper presents a simple and innovative method for oil-water separation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Tang
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232000, China
| | - Xiaxia Cui
- Institute of Technological Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhibin Hu
- School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Shaotian Lu
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232000, China
| | - Chengjun Wang
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232000, China
| | - Jau Tang
- Institute of Technological Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
De-emulsification performance and mechanism of β-CD reverse demulsifier for amphiphilic polymer oil in water (O/W) emulsion. J Mol Liq 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.117441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
|
6
|
Sjöblom J, Mhatre S, Simon S, Skartlien R, Sørland G. Emulsions in external electric fields. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 294:102455. [PMID: 34102389 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2021.102455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Water is co-produced with crude oils, generally in the form of water-in-crude oil emulsions. The oil and water phases need to be separated before export. Separation is performed in gravity separators with the addition of chemical demulsifiers and, sometimes, with the application of an electric field by using an electrocoalescer. The present article reviews several aspects of electrocoalescence by considering the effect of the electric field from the molecular to a macroscopic scale: the oil-water interface, single drop effects, two drop interactions, and finally emulsions at laboratory scales. Experimental results together with Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) simulation results are presented. The review begins with water-oil interface under an electric field and followed by single drop electrohydrodynamics. The electric field is shown to influence the adsorption of crude oil indigenous surface-active components (asphaltenes) due to the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flows. The interactions between two droplets in the presence of electric field and the factors governing the drop-drop coalescence are discussed in detail. DPD simulations help to elucidate thin film breakup during (electro)-coalescence of two water droplets, where the oil film has drained out to nanometer thickness. The film is comprised of surfactant and demulsifier molecules, and the simulations capture the pores formation in the film when a DC field is applied. The results demonstrate influence of the molecular structure of the surfactant and demulsifier, and their interactions. The subsequent section describes experimental techniques to assess the resolution of crude oil emulsions at the laboratory scale. The focus is on low-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR) which allows a determination of various emulsion features such as the droplet size distribution (DSD) and the brine profile (variation of the concentration of water with the height of the emulsion sample) and their evolution with time. Application of the technique in emulsion treatment involving chemical demulsifiers and electric field is presented. The review concludes with description of commercial industrial electrocoalecers such as the Vessel Internal Electrostatic Coalescer (VIEC) and the Compact Electrostatic Coalescer (CEC).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johan Sjöblom
- Ugelstad Laboratory, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sameer Mhatre
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Sébastien Simon
- Ugelstad Laboratory, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Roar Skartlien
- Ugelstad Laboratory, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway; Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), P.O. Box 40, N-2027 Kjeller, Norway
| | - Geir Sørland
- Ugelstad Laboratory, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway; Anvendt Teknologi AS, Munkvollvegen 56, 7022 Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Optimization of the demulsification of crude oil-in-water emulsions using response surface methodology. SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sajce.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
|
8
|
Yang Y, Ali N, Bilal M, Khan A, Ali F, Mao P, Ni L, Gao X, Hong K, Rasool K, Iqbal HM. Robust membranes with tunable functionalities for sustainable oil/water separation. J Mol Liq 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2020.114701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
|
9
|
Ali N, Bilal M, Khan A, Ali F, Nasir Mohamad Ibrahim M, Gao X, Zhang S, Hong K, M. N. Iqbal H. Engineered Hybrid Materials with Smart Surfaces for Effective Mitigation of Petroleum-originated Pollutants. ENGINEERING 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2020.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
|
10
|
Mhatre S, Simon S, Sjöblom J. Experimental Evidence of Enhanced Adsorption Dynamics at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces under an Electric Field. Anal Chem 2020; 92:12860-12870. [PMID: 32892617 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c01287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we investigate the adsorption of surface-active compounds at the water-oil interface subjected to an electric field. A fluid system comprising a pendent water drop surrounded by an asphaltene-rich organic phase is exposed to a DC uniform electric field. Two subfractions of asphaltenes having contrasting affinities to the water-oil interface are used as surface-active compounds. The microscopic changes in the drop shape, as a result of asphaltene adsorption, are captured and the drop profiles are analyzed using our in-house code for axisymmetric drop shape analysis (ADSA) under an electric field. The estimates of dynamic interfacial tension under different strengths of the field (E0) and concentrations of the asphaltene subfractions (C) are used to calculate adsorption dynamics and surface excess. The experimental observations and careful analyses of the data suggest that the externally applied electric field significantly stimulates the mass-transfer rate at the liquid-liquid interface. The enhancement in mass transport at the water-oil interface can be attributed to the axisymmetric electrohydrodynamic fluid flows generated on either side of the interface. The boost in mass transport is evident from the growing decay in equilibrium interfacial tension (γeq) and increased surface excess (Γeq) upon increasing strength of the applied electric field. The mass-transfer intensification does not increase monotonously with the electric field strength above an optimum E0, which is in agreement with the previous theoretical studies in the literature. However, these first explicit experimental measurements of adsorption at an interface under an electric field suggest that the optimum E0 is determined by characteristics of the surface-active molecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sameer Mhatre
- Ugelstad Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada T2N 1N4
| | - Sébastien Simon
- Ugelstad Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Johan Sjöblom
- Ugelstad Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Anand V, Juvekar VA, Thaokar RM. Coalescence, Partial Coalescence, and Noncoalescence of an Aqueous Drop at an Oil-Water Interface under an Electric Field. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:6051-6060. [PMID: 32306738 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b03969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Drop-interface interaction under an electric field is relevant in commercial desalters wherein water droplets suspended in oil coalesce under an electric field, move down under gravity, and eventually coalesce with the water pool at the bottom of the desalter. In this work, we report our observation that the transition from coalescence to partial coalescence can be described by a critical electrocapillary number and is independent of the Ohnesorge number. On the other hand, the partial coalescence to noncoalescence transition depends upon both the electrocapillary number and the Ohnesorge number. The bridge during partial coalescence exhibits an electrocapillary-number-independent growth and collapse dynamics, although the transition time for growth to collapse depends upon the electrocapillary number (CaE). Lastly, contrary to previous studies, our results indicate that the secondary droplet size varies as CaE3/2 unlike the CaE1/2 reported in the literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vikky Anand
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
- Departmente of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (ISM) Dhanbad, Dhanbad Jharkhand 826004, India
| | - Vinay A Juvekar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Rochish M Thaokar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Leary T, Yeganeh M, Maldarelli C. Microfluidic Study of the Electrocoalescence of Aqueous Droplets in Crude Oil. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:7348-7360. [PMID: 32280876 PMCID: PMC7144161 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b04259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In electrocoalescence, an electric field is applied to a dispersion of conducting water droplets in a poorly conducting oil to force the droplets to merge in the direction of the field. Electrocoalescence is used in petroleum refining to separate water from crude oil and in droplet-based microfluidics to combine droplets of water in oil and to break emulsions. Using a microfluidic design to generate a two-dimensional (2D) emulsion, we demonstrate that electrocoalescence in an opaque crude oil can be visualized with optical microscopy and studied on an individual droplet basis in a chamber whose height is small enough to make the dispersions two dimensional and transparent. From reconstructions of images of the 2D electrocoalescence, the electrostatic forces driving the droplet merging are calculated in a numerically exact manner and used to predict observed coalescence events. Hence, the direct simulation of the electrocoalescence-driven breakdown of 2D emulsions in microfluidic devices can be envisioned.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Leary
- The
Benjamin Levich Institute for Physicochemical Hydrodynamics and Department
of Chemical Engineering, The City College
of New York, New York, New York 10031, United
States
| | - Mohsen Yeganeh
- ExxonMobil
Research and Engineering Company, Annandale, New Jersey 08801, United States
| | - Charles Maldarelli
- The
Benjamin Levich Institute for Physicochemical Hydrodynamics and Department
of Chemical Engineering, The City College
of New York, New York, New York 10031, United
States
| |
Collapse
|