Crystallization of Long-Chain n-Paraffins from Solutions and Melts As Observed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Role of a Nanocomposite Pour Point Depressant on Wax Deposition in Different Flow Patterns from the Perspective of Crystallization Kinetics

Wax deposition is one of the core issues affecting flow assurance studies of crude oil pipelines, particularly with deep and ultradeep water conditions. Nanocomposite pour point depressants (NPPDs) provide a novel and effective strategy for inhibiting wax deposition and have recently attracted increasing research attention. Although recent advances have been made in understanding the performance and mechanism of NPPDs, the effect of flow pattern remains an open question. In this paper, deposition thicknesses of waxy oils with different flow patterns and NPPD dosages were obtained using a flow loop experimental device. It was found that the NPPD used in the current work can effectively inhibit the formation of wax deposition layers in different flow patterns. The Avrami model-focused beam reflectance measurement and polarizing microscope experiment method were used to characterize crystallization kinetics parameters and mesoscopic structure parameters of wax crystals. The consistency of results from Avrami equation fitting parameters, wax crystal morphology, and particle number supported the validity of crystallization kinetics analysis. The mechanisms of NPPD in different flow regimes were discussed. The inhibition of laminar and turbulent deposition layers by NPPD was attributed to the improvement of wax crystal morphology and the reduction of wax crystal number, respectively. This has important consequences for our understanding of the utilization and mechanism of nanocomposite pour point depressants.

Insights into Flow Improving for Waxy Crude Oil Doped with EVA/SiO2 Nanohybrids

Nanohybrid materials can significantly inhibit wax deposition and improve the fluidity of crude oil. However, the mechanisms behind wax resolving, crystal modification, and flow improving are still unclear owing to the complexity of crude oil. Here, we compared the effect of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and nanohybrids composed of EVA and SiO₂ nanoparticles on wax crystallization and rheological behavior of Shengli waxy oil. Differential scanning calorimetry results indicate that SiO₂ nanoparticles boost the efficiency of EVA for reducing the wax appearance temperature of waxy crude oil. Thermo X-ray diffraction characterization demonstrates that EVA/SiO₂ nanohybrids cut down the crystal index of waxes, with the grain size of crystal cells decreased in (006) and (200) but increased in (110) cross sections. Polarized optical microscopy imaging reveals that EVA can modify the morphology of wax crystals to suppress the formation of wax gel, and nanohybrids serve as nucleuses to adsorb asphaltenes and resins, restraining the appearance of wax crystals. The rheological test shows that nanohybrids outperform EVA in decreasing the viscosity, inflection point, and yield stress of waxy crude oil. These findings help the understanding of flow improving by nanohybrid materials and offer guidelines for designing the new generation of wax inhibitors for safe transportation and flow assurance of waxy crude oil.

Magnetic Organic-Inorganic Nanohybrid for Efficient Modification of Paraffin Hydrocarbon Crystallization in Model Oil

Crystallization modification has been applied in many fields, such as materials science, petroleum engineering, and chemical engineering. The modification of organic-inorganic hybrids via paraffin hydrocarbon crystallization has been significantly important for the exploration of undersea oil and gas resources. In this work, a metal oxide organic-inorganic hybrid pour point depressant (MOIH-PPD) is provided along with an analysis of the microscopic structure of the paraffin hydrocarbon crystal employing small-angle X-ray scattering and X-ray diffraction. The MOIH-PPD modified crystal grain exhibited a decrease in the long period and in the radius of gyration of the crystal grain and an increase in the thickness of the interface layer compared with those of the unmodified paraffin crystal. In addition, the synergistic effect of heterogeneous nucleation and the magnetic response of MOIH-PPD on the paraffin hydrocarbon system was also investigated, revealing that the synergism modification yields stress superior to that of MOIH-PPD or magnetic field alone, which provides insight into the possibility of the modification of paraffin hydrocarbon crystallization.

Structure and thermodynamics of mixed polymeric micelles with crystalline cores: tuning properties via co-assembly

We investigate micelles formed by mixtures of n-alkyl-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers, Cn-PEO, with different alkyl block lengths in aqueous solution. This model system has previously been used to shed light on the interplay between exchange kinetics and crystallinity in self-assembling systems [König et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 2019, 122, 078001]. Now we report on the structure and thermodynamics of these micelles by combining results from small-angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry and volumetric measurements. We show that mixed micelles are formed despite the fact that length-mismatched n-alkanes of similar weights in bulk tend to demix below the crystallization temperature. Instead, the system exhibits similar properties as single-component micelles but with a modulated melting region. Interestingly, the melting point depression due to self-confinement within the micellar core can be approximately described by a generalized Gibbs-Thomson equation, similar to single-component micelles [Zinn et al. Phys. Rev. Lett., 2014, 113, 238305]. Furthermore, we find a novel scaling law for these micelles where, at least for larger n, the aggregation number scales with the third power of the length of the hydrophobic block, Nagg ∝ n3. Possibly, there might be a cross-over from the conventional Nagg ∝ n2 behaviour around n ≈ 19. However, the reason for such a transition as well as the strong n dependence remains a challenge and requires more theoretical work.

Quarter-Salt Formation Defining the Anomalous Temperature Dependence of the Aqueous Solubility of Sodium Monododecyl Phosphate

The salts of monoalkyl phosphates (MAPs) have been identified as a class of inherently mild surfactants for use in household and personal products. They represent an anionic species intermediate in terms of pKa between the sulfates and the carboxylates and are analogous to the carboxylates in that they form acid-salts (which are here termed quarter-salts)-hydrogen-bonded dimers consisting of an undissociated MAP acid and an MAP monosalt. These complexes precipitate from solutions of the monosalt over a range of lower MAP concentrations giving rise to an unusual solubility/temperature relationship. The solubility of monosodium monododecyl phosphate (NaC(12)MAP) increases with temperature up to 0.01 M at approximately 60 degrees C, which corresponds to the conventional Krafft point as shown by the appearance of micelles in solution. The solubility then increases further to approximately 0.04 M as the solubility temperature declines from 60 to 38 degrees C. The transition between these two trends is characterized by a rather sharp temperature maximum in the solubility curve. In a third stage, the solubility then rises rapidly with very small change of temperature. This unusual overall behavior is shown to correspond with three distinct solid-phase compositions for the precipitates at temperatures below the solubility curve. At the lowest concentrations and up through the Krafft Point, the solid phase has been identified as the stoichiometric quarter-salt. Over the declining temperature portion of the solubility curve, the supernatant solution coexists with a macroscopic mixture of separate quarter-salt and monosalt solids. In the high-concentration third region the solid phase is exclusively the MAP monosalt. The coprecipitation of quarter-salt and monosalt from the monosalt solution occurs reversibly in the declining portion of the solubility curve and is accompanied by an increase in pH. The four phase system (solution, vapor, and two pure solid phases) retains one degree of freedom according to the phase rule since the system is in effect three component in that region.