Compounds for breaking emulsions
AssigneesSaudi Arabian Oil Company, King Fadh University of Petroleum and Minerals
InventorsManal Al-Eid, Laila S. Alsaihati, Donya A. Alsewdan, Rashed Mohammad Aleisa, Muhammad Imran Ulhaq, Shaikh Asrof Ali
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Abstract
A demulsifying agent may comprise the structure R1 may be a hydrocarbyl group or heterohydrocarbyl group comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. m may be from 2 to 10, n may be from 5 to 20, and p may be from 2 to 15. R2 may comprise a residue of propylene oxide. R3 may comprise a residue of glycidol. Embodiments of the present disclosure may further comprise methods of making the demulsifying agent and methods of using the demulsifying agent to demulsify a hydrocarbon emulsion.
Claims20
A demulsifying agent comprising the structure
- wherein:
- R1 is a hydrocarbyl group or heterohydrocarbyl group comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;
- subscript “m” is from 2 to 10, subscript “n” is from 5 to 20;
- subscript “p” is from 2 to 15;
- R2 comprises a residue of propylene oxide;
- and
- R3 comprises a residue of glycidol.
A method of making a demulsifying agent, the method comprising:
- combining novolak solids with an aprotic solvent, a weak base, and an alcohol to form a novolak solution;
- drying the novolak solution to form a novolak residue;
- combining the novolak residue with propylene oxide under stirring to form a novolak-propylene oxide solution;
- reacting the novolak-propylene oxide solution to form a novolak-PPO solution;
- combining the novolak-PPO solution with glycidol to form a novolak-PPO-glycidol solution;
- reacting the novolak-PPO-glycidol solution to form a novolak-PPO-HPG solution;
- drying the novolak-PPO-HPG solution to form the demulsifying agent, wherein the demulsifying agent comprises the structure
- wherein:
- R1 is a hydrocarbyl group or heterohydrocarbyl group comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;
- subscript “m” is from 2 to 10, subscript “n” is from 5 to 20;
- subscript “p” is from 2 to 15;
- R2 comprises a residue of propylene oxide;
- and
- R3 comprises a residue of glycidol.
A method of demulsifying a hydrocarbon emulsion, the method comprising combining a hydrocarbon feed with a demulsifying agent to form a hydrocarbon-demulsifying agent solution;
- wherein the hydrocarbon feed comprises water and hydrocarbons, wherein the demulsifying agent comprises the structure
- wherein:
- R1 is a hydrocarbyl group or heterohydrocarbyl group comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;
- subscript “m” is from 2 to 10, subscript “n” is from 5 to 20;
- subscript “p” is from 2 to 15;
- R2 comprises a residue of propylene oxide;
- and
- R3 comprises a residue of glycidol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.