O. Mouraille et al., STABILITY OF WATER-IN-CRUDE-OIL EMULSIONS - ROLE PLAYED BY THE STATE OF SOLVATION OF ASPHALTENES AND BY WAXES, Journal of dispersion science and technology, 19(2-3), 1998, pp. 339-367
The stability of water-in-crude oil (or model crude oil) emulsions was
determined by means of separation/sedimentation tests and high voltag
e destabilization tests. First the impact of the state of solvation of
asphaltenes on their ability to stabilize emulsions were studied. Sec
ondly, we analyzed the role of naturally occurring waxes in the stabil
ization of emulsions. Finally, the emulsion stability when both asphal
tenes and waxes are involved was investigated.