000 02212nab a2200181 4500
005 20260522171345.0
008 260224s2009 xxu
100 1 _aPauchard, Vincent
_941741
100 1 _aSjoblom, Johan
_941742
245 0 0 _aRole of naphthenic acids in emulsion tightness for a low-total-acid-number (TAN)/High-asphaltenes oil
260 _cmar./abr. 2009
270 _a2009-08-07 ; 2009-08-07
300 _a11 p. ; 1269-1279
520 _aResúmen del autor: The emulsion stabilizing properties of a low-total-acid-number (TAN) crude oil, which had initially been attributed to asphaltenes and calcite precipitation, were re-analyzed with regard to the role of organic acids. Despite high asphaltenes content, this crude oil exhibits features classically observed with acidic oils, such as the increase in emulsion stability upon pressure decrease/pH increase or the poor efficiency of demulsifiers. The potential for a significant role of organic acids was confirmed by the high interfacial activity of indigenous acids, as extracted from the crude oil by means of an ion-exchange resin. This was further addressed analyzing the molecular chemistry of the interfacial layer and its rheology. The interfacial material was found to be composed of a mixture of asphaltenes and organic acids. These acids exhibit a wide range of structures (mono- versus dicarboxylic, fatty versus naphthenic and benzoic) and molecular weights (from 200 to 700 g/mol), contrary to the medium molecular weight fatty monocarboxylic acids that are generally believed to cause "soap emulsions". The interfacial rheology is indicative of a 2D gel, with an assumed glass transition temperature of approximately 40 °C. In conclusion, this study shows that a co-precipitation of asphaltenes and organic acids can promote the build up of a very cohesive interface. The disruption of this interface not only requires the drainage of individual molecules but also a collective yield of the gel. This paper is part one of two: it confronts physical and chemical data, the latter being further detailed in an associated paper.
773 0 _tEnergy & fuels
_g23
942 _cARTICULO
_2ddc
999 _c170266
_d170266