Dispersion of crude oil by choline based ionic liquids

Abstract

The employment of chemical dispersants for oil spills is a universally accepted response option. However, the toxicity associated with chemical dispersant restricts its usage in marine environments. The toxicity of these dipersants can be minimized by utilizing biodegradable and enviromentally benign surfactants. In addition, the use of water in their formulation further reduces its toxicity. In this study, the ability of choline based Ionic Liquids (choline laurate and choline oleate) solubilized in water to disperse crude oil were analyzed. Results presented in this study showed that an effective dispersant is obtained by combining these two amphiphilies. For maximum dispersion, the optimal choline laurate and choline oleate ratio used is 50:50 (w/w). The dispersion efficiency of 67% was achieved by employing this optimal combination with dispersant to oil ratio (DOR) of 1:10 (v/v). The interfacial activity of the combined system was also investigated and it was observed that the interfacial activity of the combined system is greater than individual components.The results presented in this study suggests that the blend of choline laurate and choline oleate could potentially replace the conventional toxic oil spill dispersants.