A Brief Overview of the Petroleum Demulsifier

Petroleum demulsifiers, or fluid separation systems, are a group of high-tech chemicals used to separate liquids, such as, oil from water. They are also commonly employed in the manufacturing of crude oil, which unfortunately is typically created with large amounts of saltwater. This separation process can greatly improve the life of some equipment, especially if a company is experiencing a lot of corrosion within its pipes, hot rooms, and other areas that tend to attract high levels of moisture. In fact, a study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency has shown that this phenomenon is responsible for an increase in grease contamination throughout the United States.

There are two main types of Petroleum Demulsifier systems; magnetic and electrostatic. Magnetic oil emulsifiers require no electricity to operate and are ideal for use in applications where power is not available. Electromagnetic Petroleum Demulsifiers use a charge to force the liquid oil through a semi-permeable membrane, while a combination of both types results in a electrostatic Petroleum Demulsifier. Both types of units use the concept of physical and chemical interaction to encourage the separation of the oil into the component liquids.

Electrostatic Petroleum Demulsifiers (EMD) use a combination of physical and chemical properties to encourage emulsive reaction, which in turn causes the separation of the oil from its component fluids. One such compound is ketchup emulsifier, which works well in situations where the temperature and/or pressure is low, but the presence of moisture may affect the emulsification process. Another popular compound is the beta-keto ketchup emulsifier, which is particularly effective when low pressure is needed in a clean room or laboratory.

In a situation where there is little or no moisture present, but the temperature and/or pressure conditions are high, a physical or chemical separation may be achieved by using a chemical chiller or condenser. These devices are often coupled with an emulsifier, which further facilitates the separation of components by physical and/or chemical means. A physical separation is achieved by using a low-pressure dryer, while a chemical separation occurs when the solvent is introduced into the organic solvent mixture.

The most common organic solvents used in the above applications include ethyl acetate (EAA), glycols (EAG), hydrocarbons (HFCS), n-heptanols (CHNO), and carbolic acid (CA). Other less common organic solvents that may be used in the above applications include Ciesol, Diethyl esters, N-hydroxyisopropyl alcohol, N-methylesterone, and N-formaldehyde. The term 'alkylphenol' refers to the group of organic phenols, typically represented by HHD, and which have a highly toxic compound. The most common compound produced by the reaction between these organic phenols and the amino groups is the mild, toxic known as carbocations. This group of carbocations, together with the organic solvent in which they react, is generally referred to as alkylphenols.

Many common uses of demulsifiers involve applications where a high amount of moisture or a high level of contact with combustible material, such as oil, would be present. There are also applications where materials, including certain plastics, would be flammable, and it would be necessary to contain the spill. It would then be necessary to remove the resulting oil or other substance from the surface of the material in question. In this regard, it should be noted that the term "alkylphenol" refers to a group of organic phenols that, when mixed with water, create and/or solidifies a carbocation (carbide) which is a solid and flammable material. Such examples of common and well-known carbocations present an example of the type of demulsifier in use in the art and industry.