Regulation of water-in-oil emulsions based on interfacial asphaltene distribution

IF 3.7 3区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

Chemical Engineering Research & Design Pub Date : 2025-04-24 DOI:10.1016/j.cherd.2025.04.039

Zhu-Qi Liu , Nuo-Xin Zhou , Zi-Bin Huang , Jing-Yi Yang , Li-Tao Wang , Pei-Qing Yuan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Subcritical water (Sub-CW) exhibits tunable polarity and hydrogen-bonding characteristics that significantly influence the formation and stability of water-in-oil (w/o) emulsions during heavy oil processing. In this study, the interfacial behavior of asphaltenes in Sub-CW environments was elucidated through molecular dynamics simulations and experimental investigation. Results indicate that heteroatom-rich asphaltenes preferentially accumulate at the oil–water interface, forming oriented, rigid interfacial films that lower interfacial tension and enhance emulsion stability. The extent of interfacial enrichment is governed by Sub-CW thermodynamic state, oil phase composition, and asphaltene molecular structure. Experimental findings further confirm that the water content of w/o emulsions can be precisely regulated by adjusting cooling strategies—yielding emulsions with <0.5 wt % water via rapid quenching and >20 wt % through gradual cooling. These insights provide a molecular-level basis for controlling asphaltene distribution and offer a practical pathway to tailor w/o emulsion properties for diverse downstream applications in heavy oil upgrading.

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基于沥青质界面分布的油包水乳状液调控

亚临界水（Sub-CW）具有可调节的极性和氢键特性，这对稠油加工过程中油包水（w/o）乳状液的形成和稳定性有显著影响。在本研究中，通过分子动力学模拟和实验研究阐明了亚连续波环境中沥青质的界面行为。结果表明，富含杂原子的沥青质优先聚集在油水界面，形成定向、刚性的界面膜，降低界面张力，增强乳液稳定性。界面富集程度受亚连续波热力学状态、油相组成和沥青质分子结构的影响。实验结果进一步证实，通过调整冷却策略可以精确地调节w/o乳液的含水量，通过快速淬火得到<；0.5 wt %水的乳液，通过逐渐冷却得到>；20 wt %水的乳液。这些见解为控制沥青质分布提供了分子水平的基础，并为稠油改造的不同下游应用提供了定制w/o乳液特性的实用途径。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Chemical Engineering Research & Design 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

6.10

自引率

7.70%

发文量

623

审稿时长

42 days

期刊介绍： ChERD aims to be the principal international journal for publication of high quality, original papers in chemical engineering. Papers showing how research results can be used in chemical engineering design, and accounts of experimental or theoretical research work bringing new perspectives to established principles, highlighting unsolved problems or indicating directions for future research, are particularly welcome. Contributions that deal with new developments in plant or processes and that can be given quantitative expression are encouraged. The journal is especially interested in papers that extend the boundaries of traditional chemical engineering.