Demulsification of Crude Oil Emulsions Using Versatile and Eco-Friendly Demulsifiers Based on Cellulose Decorated with Imidazolium-Bearing Triazole Moiety

Waterin the crude oil forms emulsions that must be broken beforerefining processes. Here, the novel and versatile derivatives of imidazoliumionic liquids (ILs) containing triazole moiety [SIm-TazCn][Br] weresynthesized via click chemistry and then graftedonto the cellulose (CEL) to prepare eco-friendly demulsifiers forbreaking water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. The prepared compounds withtwo kinds of alkyl chains named CEL[SIm-TazC6][Br] and CEL[SIm-TazC10][Br]were characterized and employed for demulsifying W/O (30:70 and 50:50vol %) emulsions. Also, the effect of the type and concentration ofeach demulsifier on the phase separation and dehydration efficiency(DE) were investigated through the bottle test. According to the bottletest results, the CEL[SIm-TazC6][Br] derivative at 4000 ppm showeda good DE of 79% after 5 min, which increased to 82% after 24 h. Theinterfacial tension (IFT) of derivatives at different concentrationswas measured. The minimum IFT value of 16.3 mN/m was obtained forCEL[SIm-TazC6][Br] with a shorter alkyl chain at 4000 ppm after 24h. The green and efficient CEL-based surfactants significantly demulsifiedthe W/O emulsions because of the collaboration between imidazoliumand triazole moieties.

Automated summary

Emulsions formed by water in crude oil need to be broken before refining processes. Novel derivatives of imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) containing triazole moiety [SIm-TazCn][Br] were synthesized and grafted onto cellulose (CEL) to prepare eco-friendly demulsifiers for breaking water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. The CEL[SIm-TazC6][Br] derivative showed a good dehydration efficiency (DE) of 79% at 4000 ppm after 5 min, which increased to 82% after 24 h. The interfacial tension (IFT) of CEL[SIm-TazC6][Br] with a shorter alkyl chain at 4000 ppm after 24 h was measured to be the minimum value of 16.3 mN/m.