Application of Bio and Biobased Surfactants as Demulsifiers for Destabilization of Water in Crude Oil Emulsions

Abstract

Abstract A process of breaking ‘water in oil’ type of emulsions by using demulsifiers based on bio and biobased surfactants and comparison of their effectiveness with commercial demulsifier presented by creation of: five bio demulsifiers, ‘water in oil’ type emulsion and conduction of the analyze of: the impact of those agents on process of emulsion breaking by using the thermochemical method and comparison it with effectiveness of commercial one and an optimal doze of active compound in demulsifier which allows to effectively break emulsion. Testing set consists of: Oil samples from ‘Jaszczew’ field with different dozes of demulsifiers, source of biosurfactants, commercial demulsifiers in order to compare effectiveness between them, stirrer to mix brine with oil and water bath with thermostat. Research part consists of creating w/o emulsion which is stabile in time and does not break under influence of gravity in short time, creation of bio demulsifiers based on chosen sources of bio surfactants like for example soapwort, coconut betaine and lauryl glucoside, and mixed with brine (around 30 % of NaCl), choosing optimal concentration of source of surfactant which would allow to break emulsion instead of stabilizing it, and too chose optimal temperature of process, in range between 20-60 C, which enhance decrease of viscosity of emulsion. The performance of biodemulsifier Is compared with performance of commercial demulsifier. Comparisons are also provided for optimal ranges in which demulsifiers act like emulsion breakers and outside of which start acting like emulsifier.