Demulsification of Water-in-Oil Emulsions by Microwave Heating Technology
The mechanism of microwave heating is essentially
that of dielectric heating. After exposing the emulsion to the
microwave Electromagnetic (EM) field, molecular rotation and ionic
conduction due to the penetration of (EM) into the emulsion are
responsible for the internal heating. To determine the capability of
microwave technology in demulsification of crude oil emulsions,
microwave demulsification method was applied in a 50-50 % and 20-
80 % water-in-oil emulsions with microwave exposure time varied
from 20-180 sec. Transient temperature profiles of water-in-oil
emulsions inside a cylindrical container were measured. The
temperature rise at a given location was almost horizontal (linear).
The average rates of temperature increase of 50-50 % and 20-80 %
water-in-oil emulsions are 0.351 and 0.437 oC/sec, respectively. The
rate of temperature increase of emulsions decreased at higher
temperature due to decreasing dielectric loss of water. These results
indicate that microwave demulsification of water-in-oil emulsions
does not require chemical additions. Microwave has the potential to
be used as an alternative way in the demulsification process.
[1] Ali, M.F. and M.H. Alqam, 2000. The role of asphaltenes, resins and
other solids in the stabilization of Water-in-Oil Emulsions and its
effects on oil production in Saudi oil fields. Fuel,79:1309-
1316.DOI:10.1016/S0016 2361(99)00268-9
[2] Ayappa, K.G.; Chatterjee,A and Basak, T. (1998). Analysis of
Microwave Sintering of Ceramics. AIChEJ.
[3] Ayappa, K.G.; Davis, H.T.; Davis, E.A.; and Gordon, J. (1992). Two
Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Microwave Heating. AIChEJ.
[4] Kim, Y.H. et al., 1996. Demulsification of water-in-crude oil emulsions.
Effects of film tension, elasticity, diffusivity and interfacial activity of
demulsifier individual components and their blends. Dispers. Sci.
Technol., 17: 33-53.
[5] Klaila, W.J. 1983. Method and apparatus for controlling fluency of high
viscosity hydrocarbon fluids. U.S. Patent 4,067.683.
[6] Fang, C.S., B.K.L. Chang, P.M.C. Lai and W.J. Klaila, 1988.
Microwave demulsification. Chem. Eng. Commun.,73:227-239.
[7] Fang, C.S. and P.M.C. Lai, 1995. Microwave heating and separation of
water-in-oil emulsions. J. Microwave Power Electromagnet. Energ., 30:
46-57.
[8] Fang, C.S.; Lai, P.M.C.; Chang, B.K.L.; Klaila, W.J. 1989. Oil recovery
and waste reduction by microwave radiation. Environ.Prog. 235-238.
[9] Chan, C.C. and C.C. Yeong, 2002. Demulsification of water-in-oil
emulsions by microwave radiation. Sep.Sci.Technol.,37:3407-3420.
[10] Marand, E.; Baker, HR.; and Graybeal, JD. (1992). Comparison of
reaction mechanisms of epoxy resins undergoing thermal and
microwave cure from insitu measurements of microwave dielectric
properties and infrared spectroscopy. Macromolecules. 25 :2242-2252.
[11] Janney, MA.; and Kimery, HD. (1991). Diffusion-controlled processes
in microwave fired oxide ceramics. In : Snyder Jr. WB, Sutton WH,
Iskander MF, Johnson DL Editors. Microwave processing of materials
II, Materials research society proceedings, 189. pp.215-227
[12] Tanmay, B. and K.G. Ayappa, 1997. Analysis of microwave thawing of
slabs with effective heat capacity method. J. Am. Inst. Chem.
Eng., 43: 1662-1674.
[13] Thostenson, E.T.; and Chou, T.W. (1999). M icrowave processing:
Fundamentals and Applications. Composite, part A.30, 1055-1071.
[14] Wolf, N.O., 1986. Use of microwave radiation in separating emulsions
and dispersions of hydrocarbons and water. US Patent, 4582629.
[15] Hippel, A.R. 1954. Dielectric Materials and Applications. MIT Press.
Cambridge. MA.
[1] Ali, M.F. and M.H. Alqam, 2000. The role of asphaltenes, resins and
other solids in the stabilization of Water-in-Oil Emulsions and its
effects on oil production in Saudi oil fields. Fuel,79:1309-
1316.DOI:10.1016/S0016 2361(99)00268-9
[2] Ayappa, K.G.; Chatterjee,A and Basak, T. (1998). Analysis of
Microwave Sintering of Ceramics. AIChEJ.
[3] Ayappa, K.G.; Davis, H.T.; Davis, E.A.; and Gordon, J. (1992). Two
Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Microwave Heating. AIChEJ.
[4] Kim, Y.H. et al., 1996. Demulsification of water-in-crude oil emulsions.
Effects of film tension, elasticity, diffusivity and interfacial activity of
demulsifier individual components and their blends. Dispers. Sci.
Technol., 17: 33-53.
[5] Klaila, W.J. 1983. Method and apparatus for controlling fluency of high
viscosity hydrocarbon fluids. U.S. Patent 4,067.683.
[6] Fang, C.S., B.K.L. Chang, P.M.C. Lai and W.J. Klaila, 1988.
Microwave demulsification. Chem. Eng. Commun.,73:227-239.
[7] Fang, C.S. and P.M.C. Lai, 1995. Microwave heating and separation of
water-in-oil emulsions. J. Microwave Power Electromagnet. Energ., 30:
46-57.
[8] Fang, C.S.; Lai, P.M.C.; Chang, B.K.L.; Klaila, W.J. 1989. Oil recovery
and waste reduction by microwave radiation. Environ.Prog. 235-238.
[9] Chan, C.C. and C.C. Yeong, 2002. Demulsification of water-in-oil
emulsions by microwave radiation. Sep.Sci.Technol.,37:3407-3420.
[10] Marand, E.; Baker, HR.; and Graybeal, JD. (1992). Comparison of
reaction mechanisms of epoxy resins undergoing thermal and
microwave cure from insitu measurements of microwave dielectric
properties and infrared spectroscopy. Macromolecules. 25 :2242-2252.
[11] Janney, MA.; and Kimery, HD. (1991). Diffusion-controlled processes
in microwave fired oxide ceramics. In : Snyder Jr. WB, Sutton WH,
Iskander MF, Johnson DL Editors. Microwave processing of materials
II, Materials research society proceedings, 189. pp.215-227
[12] Tanmay, B. and K.G. Ayappa, 1997. Analysis of microwave thawing of
slabs with effective heat capacity method. J. Am. Inst. Chem.
Eng., 43: 1662-1674.
[13] Thostenson, E.T.; and Chou, T.W. (1999). M icrowave processing:
Fundamentals and Applications. Composite, part A.30, 1055-1071.
[14] Wolf, N.O., 1986. Use of microwave radiation in separating emulsions
and dispersions of hydrocarbons and water. US Patent, 4582629.
[15] Hippel, A.R. 1954. Dielectric Materials and Applications. MIT Press.
Cambridge. MA.
@article{"International Journal of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Sciences:53012", author = "Abdurahman H. Nour and Rosli M. Yunus and Azhary. H. Nour", title = "Demulsification of Water-in-Oil Emulsions by Microwave Heating Technology", abstract = "The mechanism of microwave heating is essentially
that of dielectric heating. After exposing the emulsion to the
microwave Electromagnetic (EM) field, molecular rotation and ionic
conduction due to the penetration of (EM) into the emulsion are
responsible for the internal heating. To determine the capability of
microwave technology in demulsification of crude oil emulsions,
microwave demulsification method was applied in a 50-50 % and 20-
80 % water-in-oil emulsions with microwave exposure time varied
from 20-180 sec. Transient temperature profiles of water-in-oil
emulsions inside a cylindrical container were measured. The
temperature rise at a given location was almost horizontal (linear).
The average rates of temperature increase of 50-50 % and 20-80 %
water-in-oil emulsions are 0.351 and 0.437 oC/sec, respectively. The
rate of temperature increase of emulsions decreased at higher
temperature due to decreasing dielectric loss of water. These results
indicate that microwave demulsification of water-in-oil emulsions
does not require chemical additions. Microwave has the potential to
be used as an alternative way in the demulsification process.", keywords = "Demulsification, temperature profile, emulsion.Microwave heating, dielectric, volume rate.", volume = "4", number = "2", pages = "166-6", }