Application of polyelectrolyte as an emulsion breaker for oil/water emulsion processing in the oil and gas industry
Abstract
Optimal oil-in-water emulsion breaking of oilly wastewater requires understanding of the conditions that promote a stable emulsion, then using the best means to enhance demulsification. Addition of heat, mechanical agitation, chemical interfacial modification, continuous phase viscosity modification, “neutralisation” of the emulsifying agent, or reduction of electrostatic repulsive forces are among the emulsion breaking methods. Oily wastewater emulsion
breaking in the petroleum industry is usually aided by the addition of linear polyelectrolytes. A novel class of polyelectrolytes that deviates from the standard linear molecular structure has been created by researchers. The new polymeric structure maximises charge site availability for demulsification. Laboratory and fi eld test data show that these new polyelectrolytes promote better oil/water separation than the commonly used linear types, even at lower usage rates.
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