Emulsion - Investigating the Chemical Composition of the Interfacial Material in Water/Oil Emulsion

The oil production is typically impacted by issues related to the formation of stable water in oil (W / O) emulsions, which have high viscosity and delay water separation. The stability of these emulsions is controlled by the surfactant characteristics of species present in crude oil, which form a molecular layer at the oil & water interface, preventing coalescence between the dispersed droplets. Therefore, a fundamental objective of oil production is to understand which species contribute to the formation of stable emulsions and to determine the best way to treat them. In this context, the primary objective of this paper is to characterize isolated species from the interfacial material (IM) of crude oil and water in oil emulsions, using Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry, through electrospray in negative mode as an ionization source technique [ESI (-) FT ICR MS] and evaluate their relationship to emulsion stability, thereby contributing to an understanding and improving the efficiency of water separation. In this study, a concentration of 66.6% water per gram of silica gel content was used to achieve optimal performance. The samples emulsion, crude oil, and centrifugally separated oil - were prepared as 5% solutions in heptol (50 : 50 v / v heptane : toluene). The previously prepared wet silica was added to these solutions, and the mixtures were transferred onto glass columns. Elution was carried out using different solvents to separate two fractions: Fraction 1 (more non polar), eluted with heptol, and Fraction 2 (more polar), eluted with methanol : toluene (1 : 2 v / v). The results revealed that the interfacial material isolated from the emulsions contained higher concentrations of oxygen- and sulfur-containing acidic compounds compared to the original crude oil. These compounds are known to contribute to emulsion stability. Overall, the methodology proved effective in isolating interfacially active species from water in oil emulsions and other petroleum samples, fulfilling the objectives of the study.