Microfluidic device coupled with total internal reflection microscopy for in situ observation of precipitation

Meng, Jia; You, Jae Bem; Arends, Gilmar F.; Hao, Hao; Tan, Xiaoli; Zhang, Xuehua

doi:10.1140/epje/s10189-021-00066-1

Cited by 11 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The diffusive mixing process in our quasi-2D micro channel allows for quantitative analysis of the effects from diffusion coefficients. Our previous work [31,32] showed that in the chamber with the same dimensions it took about tens seconds for the chemical composition to transit from the asphaltene solution to pure the paraffinic solvent supplied from the side chamber. At a given time in the mixing process, the ratio between precipitant to asphaltene (R) increases (Figure 2c) along the concentration gradient from the asphaltene solution towards the paraffinic solvent.…”

Section: Further Discussion: Solvency Influence On the Yield Of Aspha...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A quasi-2D microfluidic chamber was used to induce asphaltene precipitation by diffusive mixing with solution B, as shown in Figure 2(a)(b). More details of the quasi-2D microfluidic were described in our previous works [31,32]. In brief, solution A pre-filled the microfluidic chamber and solution B (the precipitant) was then injected through the deep side channels.…”

Section: Detection and Analysis Of Asphaltene Precipitatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…MATLAB (The MathWorks, Inc., US) was used for image analysis to get the particle size, surface coverage, and particle quantity. The details of the process for image analysis can be found in our previous work [31,32]. Briefly, surface coverage was normalized by the unit area in the field of view.…”

Section: Detection and Analysis Of Asphaltene Precipitatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…where δ alk and δ tol represent Hildebrand solubility of the paraffinic solvent and toluene, respectively, φ alk and φ tol are volume fractions of the paraffinic solvent and toluene, respectively, and φ(t, l) is the volume fraction of the paraffinic solvent at a given time and position: [32]…”

Section: Population Balance Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, micro platform device has been leveraged to study asphaltene precipitation [28,29,30]. We developed a quasi-2D microfluidic chamber to study asphaltene precipitation in-situ [31,32]. Unlike using a mixer to control mixing dynamics in a bulk system, the mixing in the microchamber was controlled by diffusion in the confined space inside the quasi-2D channel [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Size distribution of primary submicron particles and larger aggregates in solvent induced asphaltene precipitation

Meng¹,

Sontti²,

Sadeghi³

et al. 2022

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Asphaltene precipitation is a crucial phase separation phenomenon in the oil industry, especially in paraffinic froth treatment to extract bitumen from oil sands ores. This work reveals the formation of particles at 0.2 to 0.4 µm in radius, defined as a primary submicron particle (PSMP), which is ubiquitous from diffusive mixing between asphaltene solution and any of 23 types of precipitants examined in our experiments. The yield and quantity of asphaltene particles are affected not only by the Hildebrand solubility parameter of the precipitants but also by the diffusion coefficients of the asphaltene solution and the precipitant. The Population Balance Model (PBM) with the Hildebrand solubility parameter has been used to model particle size distribution. Good agreement has been achieved between numerical predictions and the experimental data. It indicates that the colloid theory can describe the size distribution of PSMP and larger aggregates. Therefore, this study provides new insight into the mechanism for the dependence of yield and size distribution of the precipitated asphaltene particles on the composition of precipitants and adding inhibitors. Controlling of asphaltene yield and size distribution may be applied to the process of hydrocarbon separation or asphaltene precipitation prevention.

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Section: Further Discussion: Solvency Influence On the Yield Of Aspha...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Detection and Analysis Of Asphaltene Precipitatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Detection and Analysis Of Asphaltene Precipitatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Population Balance Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%