Effect of Different Types of Wave Exposure on Demulsification of Stable Gel-Containing Water-in-Oil Emulsions

Abstract

An original method for wave-exposed sample preparation of commercial stable gel-containing water-in-oil emulsions is developed to separate aqueous and oil phases that are present in the composition for their subsequent analysis. Real samples of commercial stable water-in-oil emulsions differing in composition (different contents of water, gel, iron sulfide, and mechanical impurities) are studied. The effect of the intensity and duration of exposure to waves of different nature on the completeness of phase separation in real samples of commercial emulsions of different composition are studied. The possibility in principal to separate oil and aqueous phases from the composition of stable water-in-oil emulsions stabilized by gel-like associates under exposure to waves (permanent magnetic field, electromagnetic field, and ultrasonic vibrations) is shown. When a water-in-oil emulsion is exposed to a permanent magnetic field with a induction in the range of 0.1–0.57 T for 1–3 min, the degree of isolation of water from the emulsion samples under study varies in the range from 48 to 71%, depending on the composition of the emulsion under study. Similar results are obtained under direct current and alternating current electromagnetic fields with a magnetic induction of 0.1–1.0 T. For complete separation of aqueous and oil phases from gel-containing water-in-oil emulsions, we propose to use ultrasonic treatment combined with the addition of a suspension of aluminum oxide nanopowder in acetonitrile. In this case, the complete destruction of the gel and 100% separation of the aqueous and oil phases are observed.