Microwave-Assisted Chemical Demulsification of Water-in-Crude-Oil Emulsions

Abstract

Two case studies are presented that shows the effects of chemical demulsifiers used under conventional heating and in combination with microwave radiation on efficiency of demulsification and light transmittance of the water separated from the emulsions. The data shows that the chemical demulsifiers coupling with microwave radiation does a better job at demulsifying the water-in-crude-oil emulsions than when the chemical demulsifiers are used under conventional heating. The demulsification efficiency of AE-121 could reach 100% under microwave irradiation (300 W) for 50 seconds.

Keywords:

• Demulsifier
• microwave radiation
• synergistic effect
• water-in-oil emulsion

We acknowledge the financial supports from the Shenyang Natural Science Foundation, China (071483 and 2008gx-011).

Notes

^a Demulsification was carried out in an oil-bath at 80°C for 60 minutes.

^b A modified domestic microwave oven of 2,450 MHz was used, and demulsification was carried out under microwave irradiation (300 W) for 60 seconds.