Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) Study of Crude Oil−Water Emulsions in the Presence of a Functionalized Co-polymer

Abstract

This work presents a theoretical study of the effects of different molecular weights of a triblock co-polymer ethylene oxide/propylene oxide/ethylene oxide, bifunctionalized with ethalamine, on the coalescence of water drops imbibed in a crude oil environment. The polymer/crude oil/water (PCW) time evolution of the emulsion was simulated using the framework of the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) technique. The bead−bead interactions of the molecular components were calculated using the correlation between the solubility parameter, χij, of the Flory−Huggins theory and the conservative force parameter, aij. The solubility parameter was obtained from atomic molecular models of prototype molecules of saturates, aromatics, resins, asphaltenes, and the triblock co-polymer, through the blend methodology. The dynamic evolution of coarse-grain mesomolecules was carried out in cells of 20 × 20 × 20 DPD unit length with periodic boundary conditions. The composition of the emulsion was chosen to be similar to a Mexican heavy crude oil: asphaltenes, 11.9%; resins, 11.8%; aromatics, 42.7%; saturates, 29.6%; polymer, 4%; and two water drops of 3 DPD length units in radius. Finally, a drastic change in the coalescence of water molecules is observed for a short co-polymer length with respect to long co-polymer lengths.