DEMULSIFICATION OF WATER-IN-CRUDE-OIL-EMULSIONS - EFFECTS OF FILM TENSION, ELASTICITY, DIFFUSIVITY AND INTERFACIAL ACTIVITY OF DEMULSIFIER INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS AND THEIR BLENDS

This is the first study to report on the effects of the individual com ponents and blends of an emulsion breaker package on dynamic film and interfacial tensions, film elasticity and diffusivity. These parameter s were then correlated with the demulsifier performance. The measureme nts were made on systems of known crude oil, water and emulsion breake r chemistry. Results indicate that good demulsifier components must cr eate low interfacial and film elasticity, high film diffusivity, high interfacial activity, and low dynamic film tension.