726
5 Summary
In this chapter, we have given a brief introduction to elemental composition,
classification, crude oil characteristics, and stabilization of the crude oil-water
emulsion. We also discussed the destabilization of the emulsion, factors affecting
the demulsification, and various methods and parameters affecting the separation of
water from the water-in-oil emulsions. The stability of water-in-oil emulsion primarily depends upon the nature and the source of the oil. The high molecular weight
asphaltenes because of their surface-active nature form a skin around the droplets.
Because of the skin, even under an electric field, the droplets approach to each other
but can resist coalescence. Therefore, a small molecular weight demulsifier is often
added that helps to replace the skin layer and make coalescence possible. An overall
procedure to separate the water (brine) from the oil helps removal of salts from
crude oil which is responsible for the deactivation and poisoning of the catalyst in
the downstream process of refineries.
Acknowledgment The authors would like to acknowledge the Department of Science and
Technology, DST, India, for financial support to this work.
References
1. Speight JG (2006) The chemistry and technology of petroleum. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL
2. Anand V, Vashishtha M, Shown B, Patidar P, Malhotra A, Ghosh S, Jaguste S, Naik VM,
Thaokar RM, Juvekar VA (2018b) Interrelationship between electrocoalescence and
interfacial tension in a high acidity crude: effect of pH and nature of alkalinity. Colloids Surf
A Physicochem Eng Asp 555:728–735
3. Less S, Vilagines R (2012) The electrocoalescers’ technology: advances, strengths and
limitations for crude oil separation. J Pet Sci Eng 81:57–63
4. Pereira J, Velasquez I, Blanco R, Sanchez M, Pernalete C, Canelon C (2015) Crude oil
desalting process. In: Advances in petrochemicals, pp 67–84
5. Lashkarbolooki M, Ayatollahi S, Riazi M (2014) Effect of salinity, resin, and asphaltene on the
surface properties of acidic crude oil/smart water/rock system. Energy Fuel 28(11):6820–6829
6. Anand V, Juvekar VA, Thaokar RM (2019a) An experimental study on the effect of conductivity,
frequency and droplets separation on the coalescence of two aqueous drops under an electric
field. Chem Eng Res Des 152:216–225
7. Anand V, Juvekar VA, Thaokar RM (2019b) Modes of coalescence of aqueous anchored drops
in insulating oils under an electric field. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 568:294–300
8. Anand V, Roy S, Naik VM, Juvekar VA, Thaokar RM (2019d) Electrocoalescence of a pair of
conducting drops in an insulating oil. J Fluid Mech 859:839–850
9. Aryafard E, Farsi M, Rahimpour M (2015) Modeling and simulation of crude oil desalting
in an industrial plant considering mixing valve and electrostatic drum. Chem Eng Process
Process Intensif 95:383–389
10. Chiesa M, Ingebrigtsen S, Melheim JA, Hemmingsen PV, Hansen EB, Hestad Ø (2006)
Investigation of the role of viscosity on electrocoalescence of water droplets in oil. Sep Purif
Technol 50(2):267–277
11. Eow JS, Ghadiri M (2003) Drop-drop coalescence in an electric field: the effects of applied
electric field and electrode geometry. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 219(1):253–279
V. Anand and R. M. Thaokar
5 Summary
In this chapter, we have given a brief introduction to elemental composition,
classification, crude oil characteristics, and stabilization of the crude oil-water
emulsion. We also discussed the destabilization of the emulsion, factors affecting
the demulsification, and various methods and parameters affecting the separation of
water from the water-in-oil emulsions. The stability of water-in-oil emulsion primarily depends upon the nature and the source of the oil. The high molecular weight
asphaltenes because of their surface-active nature form a skin around the droplets.
Because of the skin, even under an electric field, the droplets approach to each other
but can resist coalescence. Therefore, a small molecular weight demulsifier is often
added that helps to replace the skin layer and make coalescence possible. An overall
procedure to separate the water (brine) from the oil helps removal of salts from
crude oil which is responsible for the deactivation and poisoning of the catalyst in
the downstream process of refineries.
Acknowledgment The authors would like to acknowledge the Department of Science and
Technology, DST, India, for financial support to this work.
References
1. Speight JG (2006) The chemistry and technology of petroleum. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL
2. Anand V, Vashishtha M, Shown B, Patidar P, Malhotra A, Ghosh S, Jaguste S, Naik VM,
Thaokar RM, Juvekar VA (2018b) Interrelationship between electrocoalescence and
interfacial tension in a high acidity crude: effect of pH and nature of alkalinity. Colloids Surf
A Physicochem Eng Asp 555:728–735
3. Less S, Vilagines R (2012) The electrocoalescers’ technology: advances, strengths and
limitations for crude oil separation. J Pet Sci Eng 81:57–63
4. Pereira J, Velasquez I, Blanco R, Sanchez M, Pernalete C, Canelon C (2015) Crude oil
desalting process. In: Advances in petrochemicals, pp 67–84
5. Lashkarbolooki M, Ayatollahi S, Riazi M (2014) Effect of salinity, resin, and asphaltene on the
surface properties of acidic crude oil/smart water/rock system. Energy Fuel 28(11):6820–6829
6. Anand V, Juvekar VA, Thaokar RM (2019a) An experimental study on the effect of conductivity,
frequency and droplets separation on the coalescence of two aqueous drops under an electric
field. Chem Eng Res Des 152:216–225
7. Anand V, Juvekar VA, Thaokar RM (2019b) Modes of coalescence of aqueous anchored drops
in insulating oils under an electric field. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 568:294–300
8. Anand V, Roy S, Naik VM, Juvekar VA, Thaokar RM (2019d) Electrocoalescence of a pair of
conducting drops in an insulating oil. J Fluid Mech 859:839–850
9. Aryafard E, Farsi M, Rahimpour M (2015) Modeling and simulation of crude oil desalting
in an industrial plant considering mixing valve and electrostatic drum. Chem Eng Process
Process Intensif 95:383–389
10. Chiesa M, Ingebrigtsen S, Melheim JA, Hemmingsen PV, Hansen EB, Hestad Ø (2006)
Investigation of the role of viscosity on electrocoalescence of water droplets in oil. Sep Purif
Technol 50(2):267–277
11. Eow JS, Ghadiri M (2003) Drop-drop coalescence in an electric field: the effects of applied
electric field and electrode geometry. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 219(1):253–279
V. Anand and R. M. Thaokar