Nn. Zaki et al., Polyoxyalkylenated amines for breaking of water-in-oil emulsions stabilized by asphaltenes and clay, PET SCI TEC, 18(9-10), 2000, pp. 1009-1025
The main objective of this paper is to emphasize the efficiency of synthesi
zed polyoxyalkylenated amines (PPPEA) having different hydrophilic-lipophil
ic balance (HLB) values in breaking synthetic water-in-benzene emulsions st
abilized by both petroleum asphaltenes and clay (EAC). It was found that th
e presence of clay and asphaltenes in a certain ratio (1:1 summing 0.5 wt/v
ol. % with respect to the total emulsion volume ) offers maximum emulsion s
tability. This was attributed to the affect of asphaltenes in converting wa
ter-wet particles (such as clay) into oil-wet particles, which then act as
emulsifying agents for water-in-soil emulsions. This explains the synergist
ic effect resulting from the mutual interactions between asphaltenes and cl
ay in stabilizing EAC. It was found that the most efficient demulsifiers fo
r breaking EAC are the aromatic PPPEA having low HLB. This is attributed to
the capability of the aromatic PPPEA demulsifiers to form well developed i
nteractions with the aromatic asphaltenes. This enhanced interaction will d
rag the asphaltenes and clay from the interface increasing the demulsificat
ion efficiency.