Comparative tests of fly ash powder as solid demulsifiers

This work investigates the effectiveness of fly ash particles as a solid demulsifier for destabilizing an oil-water emulsion and effectively removing water. The size of the fraction in the used solid powder does not exceed 40 microns in diameter. The demulsifier consists mainly of hematite (Fe2O3) and corundum (Al2O3) phases. The introduction of fly ash into the oil emulsion leads to demulsification of water from oil. The dosage of the powder ranged from 0.1 to 1 g. An increase in the dosage of fly ash leads to a rapid discharge of water from the emulsion. The study identifies the demulsifying properties of fly ash powder. Also, upon redispersion of demulsified samples, no re-emulsion was observed, as a result of which, it can be assumed that fly ash powder can contribute to deasphalting of oil-water emulsion. Reuse of industrial waste is an important method for improving the ecological state of the country.