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Ghasemi H, Mozaffari S, Mohammadghasemi H, Jemere AB, Nazemifard N. Microfluidic Platform for Characterization of Crude Oil Emulsion Stability. CAN J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/cjc-2021-0248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidic technology has gained significant scientific interest in the characterization of crude oil emulsions that are often formed in the process of oil production. Microfluidic platforms can be used to mimic the pores of natural rock and study multiphase displacement, as well as emulsion formation at a microscale level. This mini-Review focuses on the applications of microfluidics to probe the stability of emulsified droplets against coalescence (e.g., in the presence of additives, electric field, etc.) for both water-in-oil (W/O) and oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion systems. Additionally, this study summarizes the recent efforts made to identify the effects of various experimental factors, including crude oil composition, aging, salinity, and pH on the interfacial properties of water/oil interface and their ultimate roles in the formation/stability of emulsions. Finally, main findings and some recommendations for future work related to the potential of microfluidics in different aspects of crude oil emulsion studies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homa Ghasemi
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 14751, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Milwaukee, United States
| | - Saeed Mozaffari
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1757, Department of Chemical Engineering, Blacksburg, United States, 24061-0131
- University of Alberta, 3158, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Edmonton, Canada, T6G 2R3
| | | | - Abebaw B. Jemere
- National Research Council Canada Nanotechnology Research Centre, 103212, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Neda Nazemifard
- University of Alberta, 3158, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Edmonton, Canada, T6G 2R3
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Electrohydrodynamic Instabilities in Free Emulsion Films. COLLOIDS AND INTERFACES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/colloids5030036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Electrohydrodynamic instabilities were induced in thin water-in-oil emulsion films by application of external DC electric field. The dominant wavelengths of instabilities were measured for constant electric fields of various strengths. The dominant wavelengths agreed reasonably well with theoretical predictions based on a linear stability model. The linear stability model used in this study took into account experimentally measured repulsive disjoining pressure and calculated Maxwell stress. The observation of such instabilities can help to understand the rupture mechanism of emulsion films under the influence of electric field.
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Goel S, Joshi N, Uddin MS, Ng S, Acosta E, Ramachandran A. Interfacial Tension of the Water-Diluted Bitumen Interface at High Bitumen Concentrations Measured Using a Microfluidic Technique. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:15710-15722. [PMID: 31631660 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b02253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The interfacial tension (IFT) is a critical parameter to inform our understanding of the phenomena of drop breakup and droplet-droplet coalescence in sheared water-in-diluted bitumen (dilbit) emulsions. A microfluidic extensional flow device (MEFD) was used to determine the IFT of the dilbit-water emulsion system for bitumen concentrations of 33%, 50%, and 67% by weight (solvent to bitumen ratio (S/B) = 2, 1, and 0.5, respectively) and two different pH values of water: 8.3 and 9.9. The IFT was observed to increase with the bitumen concentration and decrease significantly upon lowering the water pH. The time scale for achieving the steady state IFT increased with bitumen concentration and was less sensitive to the water pH. But the most important feature of our measurements is that the IFTs recorded were significantly smaller than the values reported in the literature. We recognized two important differences between our studies and prior investigations: measurement of the IFT of water drops in dilbit as opposed to dilbit drops in water in earlier studies, and time scales of measurement of IFT that ranged from hundreds of milliseconds to a few seconds, as compared to a minute or longer in past investigations. These differences were examined carefully, but neither was found to explain the low IFTs measured in our studies. Our work leads to the following hypothesis: the mechanical properties of the interface of a sheared water drop in bitumen are significantly different from a stagnant one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin Goel
- University of Toronto , Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry , 200 College Street , Toronto , ON M5S 3E5 , Canada
| | - Niyati Joshi
- University of Toronto , Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry , 200 College Street , Toronto , ON M5S 3E5 , Canada
| | - Muhammad Siraj Uddin
- University of Toronto , Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry , 200 College Street , Toronto , ON M5S 3E5 , Canada
| | - Samson Ng
- Syncrude Canada Limited, Edmonton Research Centre , Edmonton , Alberta Canada
| | - Edgar Acosta
- University of Toronto , Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry , 200 College Street , Toronto , ON M5S 3E5 , Canada
| | - Arun Ramachandran
- University of Toronto , Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry , 200 College Street , Toronto , ON M5S 3E5 , Canada
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Sadeghi HM, Sadri B, Kazemi MA, Jafari M. Coalescence of charged droplets in outer fluids. J Colloid Interface Sci 2018; 532:363-374. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Kataoka ÉM, Murer RC, Santos JM, Carvalho RM, Eberlin MN, Augusto F, Poppi RJ, Gobbi AL, Hantao LW. Simple, Expendable, 3D-Printed Microfluidic Systems for Sample Preparation of Petroleum. Anal Chem 2017; 89:3460-3467. [PMID: 28230979 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b04413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we introduce a simple protocol to manufacture disposable, 3D-printed microfluidic systems for sample preparation of petroleum. This platform is produced with a consumer-grade 3D-printer, using fused deposition modeling. Successful incorporation of solid-phase extraction (SPE) to microchip was ensured by facile 3D element integration using proposed approach. This 3D-printed μSPE device was applied to challenging matrices in oil and gas industry, such as crude oil and oil-brine emulsions. Case studies investigated important limitations of nonsilicon and nonglass microchips, namely, resistance to nonpolar solvents and conservation of sample integrity. Microfluidic features remained fully functional even after prolonged exposure to nonpolar solvents (20 min). Also, 3D-printed μSPE devices enabled fast emulsion breaking and solvent deasphalting of petroleum, yielding high recovery values (98%) without compromising maltene integrity. Such finding was ascertained by high-resolution molecular analyses using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry by monitoring important biomarker classes, such as C10 demethylated terpanes, ααα-steranes, and monoaromatic steroids. 3D-Printed chips enabled faster and reliable preparation of maltenes by exhibiting a 10-fold reduction in sample processing time, compared to the reference method. Furthermore, polar (oxygen-, nitrogen-, and sulfur-containing) analytes found in low-concentrations were analyzed by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Analysis results demonstrated that accurate characterization may be accomplished for most classes of polar compounds, except for asphaltenes, which exhibited lower recoveries (82%) due to irreversible adsorption to sorbent phase. Therefore, 3D-printing is a compelling alternative to existing microfabrication solutions, as robust devices were easy to prepare and operate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Érica M Kataoka
- Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais , Campinas, São Paulo 13083-100, Brazil
| | - Rui C Murer
- Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais , Campinas, São Paulo 13083-100, Brazil
| | - Jandyson M Santos
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas , Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Rogério M Carvalho
- Centro de Pesquisas e Desenvolvimento Américo Miguez de Mello, Petrobras , Rio de Janeiro, 20031-912 Brazil
| | - Marcos N Eberlin
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas , Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Fabio Augusto
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas , Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Ronei J Poppi
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas , Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Angelo L Gobbi
- Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais , Campinas, São Paulo 13083-100, Brazil
| | - Leandro W Hantao
- Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais , Campinas, São Paulo 13083-100, Brazil.,Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas , Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil
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Liu Z, Chan ST, Faizi HA, Roberts RC, Shum HC. Droplet-based electro-coalescence for probing threshold disjoining pressure. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:2018-24. [PMID: 25771963 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00177c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we investigate the coalescence of emulsion droplets in a controlled electric field. Two contacting droplets stabilized by surfactants can be forced to coalesce into a combined one when the applied voltage is above a critical value. The critical voltages change with the types, concentrations of surfactants and temperature. By exploring the drainage of a thin oil film trapped between emulsions, we interpret that the coalescence occurs as the electric compression overcomes the disjoining pressure barrier and squeezes the film to a critical thickness. Based on this, we have devised an approach to probe the threshold disjoining pressure which can help predict the emulsion stability and surfactant efficacy quantitatively. We have confirmed the validity of our approach for measuring the threshold disjoining pressure by comparing the result with other proven tests that involve centrifugation and thermal heating. Our approach is simple, reliable and robust in predicting emulsion stability and will facilitate the design of emulsion-based formulations by accelerating the testing of emulsion stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Haking Wong Building, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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Pluangklang T, Wydallis JB, Cate DM, Nacapricha D, Henry CS. A Simple Microfluidic Electrochemical HPLC Detector for Quantifying Fenton Reactivity from Welding Fumes. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2014; 6:8180-8186. [PMID: 25267929 PMCID: PMC4175734 DOI: 10.1039/c4ay01534g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Development and characterization of a simple microfluidic electrochemical flow cell that can be coupled with HPLC to enable dual absorbance/electrochemical detection is described. Coupling absorbance and electrochemical detection increases the information that can be gathered from a single injection, but a second (typically expensive) detection system is required. Here, an inexpensive, customizable microfluidic electrochemical detector is coupled in series with a commercial HPLC/UV system. The microfluidic device is made from poly(dimethylsiloxane) and contains carbon paste electrodes. To demonstrate the utility of this dual-detection system, the reaction products of the radical scavenging agent salicylic acid and hydroxyl radical generated by Fenton chemistry were analyzed. The dual-detection system was used to quantify 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and catechol produced by the addition of H2O2 to filter samples of welding fumes. Measurement recovery was high, with percent recoveries between 97-102%, 92-103%, and 95-103% for 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and catechol, respectively, for control samples. The methods described in this work are simple, reliable, and can inexpensively couple electrochemical detection to HPLC-UV systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanakorn Pluangklang
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - John B. Wydallis
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - David M. Cate
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Duangjai Nacapricha
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Charles S. Henry
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
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Electric charging of inverse micelles in a nonpolar liquid with surfactant. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2013.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Schneider MH, Sieben VJ, Kharrat AM, Mostowfi F. Measurement of asphaltenes using optical spectroscopy on a microfluidic platform. Anal Chem 2013; 85:5153-60. [PMID: 23614817 DOI: 10.1021/ac400495x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We present a microfluidic apparatus and method for the measurement of asphaltene content in crude-oil samples. The measurement is based on an optical absorption technique, where it was established that asphaltene coloration correlated linearly with asphaltene weight content. The initial absorbance of the oil is measured, and asphaltenes are removed from the oil by the addition of n-alkane, leading to flocculation and subsequent filtration. The absorbance of the deasphalted oil (maltenes) is then measured, and the initial asphaltene content is revealed by the change in absorbance. The asphaltene optical densities correlated linearly with conventional weight measurement results (e.g., ASTM D6560) for 38 crude-oil samples from around the world. Sample measurement repeatability was shown to be within ±2% over several months. Other aspects influencing performance of the system were evaluated, including plug dispersion, flocculation kinetics, membrane degradation, and channel clogging. The microfluidic approach described here permits asphaltene content measurement in less than 30 min as opposed to days required with traditional gravimetric techniques. This many-fold reduction in measurement time will enable more frequent characterization of crude oil samples.
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Formation and stability of nanoparticle-stabilised oil-in-water emulsions in a microfluidic chip. J Colloid Interface Sci 2011; 363:301-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2011.07.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2011] [Revised: 07/15/2011] [Accepted: 07/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Atta A, Crawford DG, Koch CR, Bhattacharjee S. Influence of electrostatic and chemical heterogeneity on the electric-field-induced destabilization of thin liquid films. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2011; 27:12472-12485. [PMID: 21888320 DOI: 10.1021/la202759j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A numerical model for thin liquid film (<100 nm) drainage in the presence of an external electric field is developed. Long-wave theory is applied to approximate and simplify the governing equations. A spatiotemporal film morphology evolution equation thus obtained is then solved using a combination of finite difference to resolve the spatial dimensions and an adaptive time step ODE solver for the temporal propagation. The effect of fluid properties, namely, viscosity and surface tension, on the film drainage time is observed for a homogeneous electric field, which leads to random dewetting spots. Electrically heterogeneous fields, achieved by modeling electrodes with various periodic patterns, are explored to identify their effect on the drainage time and behavior. Finally, the chemical heterogeneity of the substrate is coupled with the periodic electric heterogeneity to understand the implications of combined heterogeneity. It is observed that the introduction of any heterogeneity results in faster drainage of the film when compared to that of the homogeneous field. In all cases, the thin film is drained, leaving submicrometer-scale structures at the interface. Well-controlled surface patterns are found on the application of periodic heterogeneity. This study effectively demonstrates the immense potential of electrically induced thin film drainage as a means for faster de-emulsification and for the creation of ordered submicrometer-scale surface patterns on soft materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnab Atta
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Khristov K, Petkova H, Alexandrova L, Nedyalkov M, Platikanov D, Exerowa D, Beetge J. Foam, emulsion and wetting films stabilized by polyoxyalkylated diethylenetriamine (DETA) polymeric surfactants. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2011; 168:105-13. [PMID: 21807358 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2011.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2010] [Revised: 07/06/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This review explores three (A, B, C) polyoxyalkylated diethylenetriamine (DETA) polymeric surfactants belonging to the group of star-like polymers. They have a similar structure, differing only in the number of polymeric branches (4, 6 and 9 in the mentioned order). The differences in these surfactants' ability to stabilize foam, o/w/o and w/o/w emulsion and wetting films are evaluated by a number of methods summarized in Section 2. Results from the studies indicate that differences in polymeric surfactants' molecular structure affect the properties exhibited at air/water, oil/water and water/solid interfaces, such as the value of surface tension, interfacial tension, critical micelle concentration, degree of hydrophobicity of solid surface, etc. Foam, emulsion and wetting films stabilized by such surfactants also show different behavior regarding some specific parameters, such as critical electrolyte concentration, surfactant concentration for obtaining a stable film, film thickness value, etc. These observations give reasons to believe that model studies can support a comprehensive understanding of how the change in polymeric surfactant structure can impact thin liquid films properties. This may enable a targeted design of the macromolecular architecture depending on the polymeric surfactants application purpose.
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Khristov K, Czarnecki J. Emulsion films stabilized by natural and polymeric surfactants. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2010.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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