Novel petroleum demulsifiers based on acrylic random copolymers. Issue 4 (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cevada, Enrique; Palacios, Norma; Hernández, Edgar; Castro, Laura; López, Alfonso; Flores, César; Álvarez, Fernando; Vázquez, Flavio
• Is Part Of: Journal of dispersion science and technology. Volume 40:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 495
• Page End: 506
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: Emulsion polymerization -- petroleum demulsifier -- Random acrylic copolymers; Emulsions -- Periodicals; Suspensions (Chemistry) -- Periodicals; Emulsions; Suspensions; 541.34
• DOI: 10.1080/01932691.2018.1472009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0193-2691

Abstract

Abstract: Although normally the copolymers used to remove water from crude oil have a block structure, two series of random acrylic copolymers were evaluated as petroleum demulsifiers. These acrylic copolymers, with two different butyl acrylate ( BuA ) and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate ( 2-EHA ) contents, were synthesized by semi-continuous emulsion polymerization. Their weight-average molar mass ( M w ¯ ) was varied by modifying the amount of chain transfer agent relative to the monomers from 0 to 8 wt%. FTIR and 13 C-NMR spectroscopies confirmed that the conversion of the monomers was complete. The synthesized acrylic copolymers were subsequently evaluated as demulsifier agents in a Mexican heavy crude oil (10.24°API). Copolymers with 70 wt% butyl acrylate monomer and a weight-average molar mass above of 11 000 g mol −1 presented the greatest ability to remove emulsified water from the system. The demulsifying capability of the copolymer was evidenced to be strongly dependent on their molecular mass. Highlights: Synthesis of random acrylic copolymers (BuA- co -2-EHA) of different average molar mass ( M w ¯ ). Evaluation of random acrylic copolymers as demulsifiers of heavy crude oil. Weight-average molar mass ( M w ¯ ) and monomer composition play an important role on the performance of random acrylic copolymers as demulsifiers. Graphical Abstract: uf0001