A regular, hydrophobically modified polyampholyte as novel pour point depressant

Abstract

ABSTRACT:A new regular polyampholyte, namely poly(N,N-diallyl-N-octadecylamine-alt-(maleic acid)), was studied as an additive to crude oil. The amphiphilic polyampholyte proved to be an efficient pour point depressant, to inhibit the deposition of wax, and to improve the viscosity of waxy crude oil from the Akshabulak oilfield (Western Kazakhstan). On optimizing the concentration of the polymer, both the kinematical viscosity and the pour point of waxy crude oils were found to be strongly decreased. The morphology of the paraffin aggregates formed was compared before and after heat treatment of the waxy crude oils, in the presence and the absence of the polymer. The rheological characteristics of the waxy crude oil were markedly improved, in particular, by decreasing the plastic viscosity and the yield stress values upon addition the polymer. The inhibition of wax deposits in the presence of the amphiphilic polyampholyte was interpreted in terms of its interference with the wax crystallization process because of the formation of inverse micellar structures. Although the interaction of the cationic and the anionic groups on the polymer backbone stabilizes the smaller size of the aggregates, the hydrophobic side chains of the polymer provide nucleation sites and cocrystallize with the paraffins, thus modifying the paraffin crystal structure.

Adsorption of Polymeric Additives Based on Vinyl Acetate Copolymers as Wax Dispersant and Its Relevance to Polymer Crystallization Mechanisms

“…This indicates that VASM (2 : 1) copolymer has the ability to disperse wax crystals and improve the flow behaviors of the tested crude oils as observed from the data listed in Table 6. These results are in good agreement with data on the polymeric additives [35][36][37][38] which decreased both pour point temperatures and the yield shear stress. Finally we can conclude that the VASM (2 : 1) can act as flow improver for Egyptian waxy crude oils.…”

Recent advances on mitigating wax problem using polymeric wax crystal modifier

“…12), was synthesized by Kudaibergenov et al (2005). This polymer was exhibited to act as an efficient flow improver and wax inhibitor for a waxy crude oil (Askshabulak Oilfield).…”

Spectroscopic properties of mixed Langmuir–Blodgett films of rhodamine dyes and poly(N,N-diallyl-N-octadecylamine-alt-maleic acid)

“…In this communication the LB films of regular hydrophobically-modified polyampholyte, namely poly(N,N-diallyl-Noctadecylamine-alt-maleic acid) (PDAOM), [21][22][23], as well as the mixed LB films composed of PDAOM and two amphiphilic fluorophores R1 and R2 are considered. The chemical structures of PDAOM and rhodamine dyes R1, R2 are shown in Fig.…”