Chemical separation of petroleum crude oil emulsions using two new poly(ionic liquid)s

Abstract

This work aims to prepare new poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) and use them for crude oil emulsion separation (EES). PILs were synthesized by an opening ring reaction of hexadecylsuccinic anhydride (HAS) using polyethyleneimine branched MW 600 (PEI) and triethylenetetramine (TTA) in a one‐step procedure, obtaining PILs, HSPI‐PIL, and HSTA‐PIL, respectively. Chemical structure, interfacial tension, aggregate size, and thermal behavior were verified using several techniques. The efficiency of HSPI‐PIL and HSTA‐PIL toward EES was explored using different parameters, including water content (WC), demulsifier concentration, temperature, and pH value. The results indicated that EES proportionally increased with increased WC and temperature. The data also revealed that increased demulsifier concentration improved EES at low WC, for example, 10% and 30%; however, this parameter showed no significant effect with crude oil emulsion containing high WC, for example, 50%. Furthermore, HSPI‐PIL and HSTA‐PIL gave the maximum EES values at a pH of 7, while they decreased in acidic and basic mediums.