Abstract
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights, namely, 200, 400, 600 and 1,000 g/mol was reacted with dodecyl phenol to form compounds having different hydrophile-lipophile balances and hence different surface activities. The demulsification efficiency of the prepared surfactants in breaking up water-in-crude oil emulsions was evaluated. The data revealed that demulsification efficiency increases with increasing demulsifier concentration, contact time and hydrophilicity. The effect of temperature, NaCl concentration (salinity) and solvents on demulsification efficiency was investigated. The demulsification efficiency of the studied surfactants was found to increase with increasing temperature and decreasing salinity of the aqueous phase. A mixture of xylene and isopropanol was found to be the best solvent for the prepared demulsifier with respect to demulsification properties.
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