Synthesis and evaluation of a new compound based on salicylaldehyde as flow improver for waxy crude oil

Abstract

In this study a new compound 6,6'-(((phenylmethylene,o-olieat)bis(oxy))bis(ethane-2,1-diyl))bis(2-phenyl-o-olieat-1,3,6-dioxazocane)) named (SB2) was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, TGA, 1H NMR and elemental analysis. The SB2 was tested as flow improver and pour point depressant in terms of rheological properties and pour point measurements for treated and untreated waxy crude oil. The results showed a significant viscosity reduction at different temperatures and dosages. In (SB2) the ηapp values were; 326.8, 305.2 and 280.2 mPa.s and Bingham yield stress (ƮB) values 0.38, 0.21and 0.19 Pa at 15 °C, 20 °C and 30 °C respectively and concentration 1000 ppm. Whereas the (ηapp) and (ƮB) for the blank crude oil were; 743.1, 694.2, and 607.2 mPa.s and the (ƮB) values 0.74, 0.69, and 0.60 Pa respectively. The physical mixtures between [SB2] and the previously prepared acrylate-based polymers named [M1, M2, M3] and with a commercially used pour point depressant EPRI J25, named (M4) was investigated. The maximum reduction in (ηapp) and (ƮB) achieved by (M3) was (ηapp) 205.3 mPa.s and (ƮB) 0.13 Pa at the temperatures of 15 °C. Meanwhile, pour point measurements showed that; the (SB2) alone exhibited PP 12 °C (Δ PP= 15 from the blank 27 °C), whereas the J25 recorded PP 15 °C (Δ PP= 12). The maximum depression achieved with the (M4) were PP 6 °C (Δ PP= 21) at 2000 ppm. The mechanism cleared this behavior was drawn in the text, and the achieved results were discussed on the base of carbon number distribution of the waxy crude oil.