Synthesis of surfactants based on alkyl glyceryl ester /ether and evaluation as wax inhibitor

This study evaluated glycerol esters (GEC12, GEC14) and ethers (GEtC14, GEtC18) as alternative paraffin inhibitors compared with a commercial product (PI-CX). Rheological tests were performed on two crude oils (A and C). A cold finger assay was performed to measure wax deposition in a model system. PI-CX showed the best performance overall, but the synthesized molecules were also effective for oil A, reducing gelation temperature, viscosity, and yield stress. GEC12 showed slightly superior performance among the synthesized inhibitors. In the model system these inhibitors had the same performance. Although PI-CX proved to be more efficient, the new compounds are low cost, biodegradable, and effective under severe conditions (5 °C). Oil C, which did not gel down to –5 °C, showed no improvement with inhibitors, indicating that not all oils require treatment. The results support the potential of these glycerol-based compounds as sustainable alternatives for paraffin inhibition in specific crude oils.