Synthesis,characterization, and evaluation of gemini polymeric surfactants for crude oil treatment and anti-corrosio

Excessive water content in the form of emulsions within crude oil has emerged as a primary challenge within the contemporary oil industry. The formation of these emulsions in oil wells not only diminishes the desirable properties of the crude oil but also escalates the overall costs associated with the refining process. Adding to this complexity is the inadvertent mixing of saline water from nearby reservoirs into the crude oil, which subsequently triggers corrosive reactions in pipelines, insulators, tanks, and vessels through which the crude oil traverses. Consequently, the application of emulsifiers has become an imperative facet of the purification and refining protocols, given their substantial impact on the fundamental characteristics of crude oil. In order to mitigate these issues, the deployment of demulsifiers has emerged as a crucial strategy, as they facilitate the separation of water from crude oil emulsions, thereby mitigating the corrosion rates experienced within oil equipment. The current investigation focuses on the synthesis and evaluation of four novel demulsifiers (designated as F1, F2, F3, and F4). These demulsifiers were synthesized and subsequently applied at varying concentrations to serve the dual roles of demulsification and corrosion inhibition. The design of these synthesized surfactants was inspired by Gemini surfactants and they were produced via a ring-opening polymerization process, utilizing ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid as the foundational precursor material. For comprehensive characterization, techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy were employed. Furthermore, key parameters including average molecular weight, viscosity, critical micelle concentration (CMC), and the Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) were determined to gauge the fundamental properties of the synthesized demulsifiers. In order to assess their efficacy, the synthesized demulsifiers were subjected to varying concentrations (ranging from 50 ppm to 250 ppm) and evaluated for their capacity to efficiently separate water from oil emulsions. The outcomes of this investigation led to the discernment that the separation efficiency and the effectiveness in mitigating corrosion can be ranked in the following order: DF2 > DF1 > DF4 > DF3. This study sheds light on the paramount importance of demulsification in addressing water-related challenges within the oil industry. The newly synthesized demulsifiers showcase potential in not only enhancing the separation efficiency of water from oil emulsions but also in curbing the corrosive tendencies associated with such mixtures. The detailed analysis of their structural, chemical, and physical attributes contributes to a comprehensive understanding of their potential applications in the field.