Karafan Journal

Karafan Journal

Theoretical and Experimental Elucidation of Emulsion Breaking of Crude Oil in Water by Increasing the Weight of Dispersed Droplets

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering Sciences, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Tehran, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Darab Branch, Islamic Azad University, Darab, Iran.
Abstract
In this research, oil-in-water emulsion, as an example of oily wastewater produced from crude oil desalting units in refineries, using oleic acid-coated magnetic micron-sized particles. This novel demulsification method is based on increasing the weight of dispersed oil droplets using magnetic micron-sized particles, which does not necessarily require the application of a magnetic field for demulsification and does not necessitate the addition of a surfactant. However, the magnetic property of the particles provides an opportunity for their recovery. The effect of seven factors—mixing time, temperature, acidity (pH), salt concentration, wettability (weight ratio of oleic acid to magnetic particles), mixing speed, and weight of magnetic particles, on the removal efficiency of the dispersed phase were evaluated. The results showed that, firstly, all the mentioned factors affect the demulsification efficiency and oil removal from water. Secondly, the highest oil removal rate was achieved by reducing the mixing time and increasing the amount of magnetic particles. However, the effect of acidity on oil removal is more significant, such that, the acidic conditions combined with the use of pure magnetic particles can lead to complete oil removal. Furthermore, to achieve an oil removal efficiency of 82% or less, it is possible to offset the consumption of the magnetic demulsifier by increasing the mixing time.
Keywords
Subjects

[1] Coca-Prados, J., & Gutiérrez-Cervelló, G. (2011). Water purification and management. Springer Science & Business Media.  https://doi.org/ 10.1007/978-90-481-9775-0.
[2] Ali, N., Zhang, B., Zhang, H., Li, W., Zaman, W., Tian, L., & Zhang, Q. (2015). Novel Janus magnetic micro particle synthesis and its applications as a demulsifier for breaking heavy crude oil and water emulsion. Fuel, 141, 258-267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2014.10.026 .
[3] Yu, L., Han, M., & He, F. (2017). A review of treating oily wastewater. Arabian journal of chemistry, 10, S1913-S1922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2013.07.020.
[4] Jamaly, S., Giwa, A., & Hasan, S. W. (2015). Recent improvements in oily wastewater treatment: Progress, challenges, and future opportunities. Journal of environmental sciences, 37, 15-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2015.04.011.
[5] Xu, H., Jia, W., Ren, S., & Wang, J. (2018). Novel and recyclable demulsifier of expanded perlite grafted by magnetic nanoparticles for oil separation from emulsified oil wastewaters. Chemical Engineering Journal, 337, 10-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.12.084.
[6] Fortuny, M., Oliveira, C. B., Melo, R. L., Nele, M., Coutinho, R. C., & Santos, A. F. (2007). Effect of salinity, temperature, water content, and pH on the microwave demulsification of crude oil emulsions. Energy & fuels, 21(3), 1358-1364. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef0603885.
[7] Davis, B., & Occelli, M. (2006). Magnetic separation of nanometer size iron catalyst from Fischer-Tropsch wax. Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, Catalysts and Catalysis, Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1201/b19455.
[8] Lu, A. H., Salabas, E. e. L., & Schüth, F. (2007). Magnetic nanoparticles: synthesis, protection, functionalization, and application. Angewandte chemie international edition, 46(8), 1222-1244. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.200602866.
[9] Wang, R., Li, J., Zhou, H., Liu, S., Sun, W., & Zhang, C. (2023). Research advancement on magnetic nanomaterial demulsifier for oil-water separation. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 11(5), 110245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2023.110245.
[10] Xu, Z., Zhu, Q., & Bian, J. (2021). Preparation of a recyclable demulsifier for the treatment of emulsified oil wastewater by chitosan modification and sodium oleate grafting Fe3O4. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 9(4), 105663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.105663.
[11] Li, S., Li, N., Yang, S., Liu, F., & Zhou, J. (2013). The synthesis of a novel magnetic demulsifier and its application for the demulsification of oil-charged industrial wastewaters. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2(1), 94-99. https://doi.org/10.1039/C3TA12952G.
[12] Peng, J., Liu, Q., Xu, Z., & Masliyah, J. (2012). Synthesis of interfacially active and magnetically responsive nanoparticles for multiphase separation applications. Advanced Functional Materials, 22(8), 1732-1740. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201102156.
[13] Lemos, B. R., Teixeira, A. P. C., Ardisson, J. D., Macedo, W. A., Fernandez-Outon, L. E., Amorim, C. C., Moura, F. C., & Lago, R. M. (2012). Magnetic amphiphilic composites applied for the treatment of biodiesel wastewaters. Applied Sciences, 2(2), 513-524. https://doi.org/10.3390/app2020513.
[14] Peng, J., Liu, Q., Xu, Z., & Masliyah, J. (2012). Novel magnetic demulsifier for water removal from diluted bitumen emulsion. Energy & fuels, 26(5), 2705-2710. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef2014259.
[15] Duan, M., Xu, Z., Zhang, Y., Fang, S., Song, X., & Xiong, Y. (2017). Core-shell composite nanoparticles with magnetic and temperature dual stimuli-responsive properties for removing emulsified oil. Advanced Powder Technology, 28(5), 1291-1297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2017.02.017.
[16] Farrokhi, F., Jafari Nasr, M. R., Rahimpour, M. R., Arjmand, M., & Vaziri, S. A. (2018). Application of a novel magnetic nanoparticle as demulsifier for dewatering in crude oil emulsion. Separation Science and Technology, 53(3), 551-558. https://doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2017.1373676.
[17] Ghanbari, M., Jesmani, S. M., & Salehi, K. (2024). Application of Micron-sized Oleic-acid Covered Magnetite Particles in Co-sedimentation-demulsification of Water in Crude Oil Emulsion: identification of effective parameters. In Persian. https://doi.org/10.48301/kssa.2024.422533.2746 .
[18] Liang, J., Du, N., Song, S., & Hou, W. (2015). Magnetic demulsification of diluted crude oil-in-water nanoemulsions using oleic acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 466, 197-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2014.11.050.
[19] Liu, J., Huang, X.-f., Lu, L.-j., Li, M.-x., Xu, J.-c., & Deng, H.-p. (2011). Turbiscan Lab® Expert analysis of the biological demulsification of a water-in-oil emulsion by two biodemulsifiers. Journal of hazardous materials, 190(1-3), 214-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.03.028.
[20] Lü, T., Zhang, S., Qi, D., Zhang, D., Vance, G. F., & Zhao, H. (2017). Synthesis of pH-sensitive and recyclable magnetic nanoparticles for efficient separation of emulsified oil from aqueous environments. Applied Surface Science, 396, 1604-1612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.11.223.
[21] Lü, T., Zhang, S., Qi, D., Zhang, D., & Zhao, H. (2016). Thermosensitive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-grafted magnetic nanoparticles for efficient treatment of emulsified oily wastewater. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 688, 513-520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.07.262.
[22] Xu, Y., Cheng, L., Wang, Y., & Jia, H. (2024). Facile Synthesis of Novel Magnetic Janus Graphene Oxide for Efficient and Recyclable Demulsification of Crude Oil-in-Water Emulsion. Molecules, 29(14), 3307. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29143307.
[23] Amiri, Z., Halladj, R., Shekarriz, M., & Rashidi, A. (2024). Synthesis and application of recyclable magnetic cellulose nanocrystals for effective demulsification of water in crude oil emulsions. Environmental Pollution, 342, 123042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123042.
[24] Ma, S., Wang, Y., Wang, X., Li, Q., Tong, S., & Han, X. (2016). Bifunctional demulsifier of ODTS modified magnetite/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for oil–water separation. ChemistrySelect, 1(15), 4742-4746 https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.201601167.
[25] Elmobarak, W. F., & Almomani, F. (2021). Application of magnetic nanoparticles for the removal of oil from oil-in-water emulsion: Regeneration/reuse of spent particles. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 203, 108591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.108591.
[26] Malhas, R., El Achkar, J. H., Misbah, B., & Al Radhwan, S. (2023). Optimizing oil removal from oil-water emulsions using novel iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 234(9), 564. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06590-4 .
[27] Viveros, L. T. L., Rafati, R., & Haddad, A. S. (2024). Impact of coated and non-coated magnetic nanoparticles on oil-water separation in green surfactant-based emulsions. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 697, 134366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.134366.
[28] Oka, T., Itoh, Y., Yanagi, Y., Yoshikawa, M., Ikuta, H., & Mizutani, U. (2000). Construction of a 2–5 T class superconducting magnetic field generator with use of an Sm123 bulk superconductor and its application to high-magnetic field demanding devices. Physica C: Superconductivity, 335(1-4), 101-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-4534(00)00152-0.
[29] Oka, T., Yokoyama, K., Itoh, Y., Ikuta, H., Mizutani, U., Okada, H., Katagiri, K., & Noto, K. (2003). Construction of a strong magnetic field generator with use of melt-processed bulk superconductors. IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity, 13(2), 1584-1587. https://doi.org/10.1109/TASC.2004.830393.
[30] Ghanbari, M., & Esmaeilzadeh, F. (2019). Demulsification by increasing the gravitational force acting upon the dispersed phase owing to the adsorption/absorption of the magnetite particles. Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology, 40(11), 1581-1590. https://doi.org/10.1080/01932691.2018.1518144.
[31] Bishop, K. J., Wilmer, C. E., Soh, S., & Grzybowski, B. A. (2009). Nanoscale forces and their uses in self‐assembly. small, 5(14), 1600-1630. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.200900358.
[32] Bürger, R. (2000). Phenomenological foundation and mathematical theory of sedimentation–consolidation processes. Chemical Engineering Journal, 80(1-3), 177-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1383-5866(00)00089-7.
[34] Liang, J., Li, H., Yan, J., & Hou, W. (2014). Demulsification of oleic-acid-coated magnetite nanoparticles for cyclohexane-in-water nanoemulsions. Energy & fuels, 28(9), 6172-6178. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef501169m.
[35] Viali, W. R., Alcantara, G. B., Sartoratto, P. P., Soler, M. A., Mosiniewicz-Szablewska, E., Andrzejewski, B., & Morais, P. C. (2010). Investigation of the molecular surface coating on the stability of insulating magnetic oils. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 114(1), 179-188. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp908732b.
[36] Roshan, N., Ghader, S., & Rahimpour, M. R. (2018). Application of the response surface methodology for modeling demulsification of crude oil emulsion using a demulsifier. Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology, 39(5), 700-710. https://doi.org/10.1080/01932691.2017.1385480.
Volume 23, Issue 1
Technical and Engineering
Spring 2026
Pages 645-671

  • Receive Date 29 December 2024
  • Revise Date 04 April 2025
  • Accept Date 14 December 2025