Surfactants Enhanced Heavy Oil-Solid Separation from Carbonate Asphalt Rocks-Experiment and Molecular Dynamic Simulation.

ABSTRACT: In this study, surfactants were used to enhance heavy oil-solid separation, and a detailed mechanism was explored by SARA (saturates, aromatics, resins, asphaltenes) analysis, element analysis, AFM measurement, and molecular dynamic simulation. Surfactants could effectively decrease oil/solid interaction force and then oil-solid separation would be enhanced. The oil-solid interactive force was in relation to surfactants concentration, pH value, asphaltene content, and salinity. The molecular dynamics simulation results show that the dissociation of saturated hydrocarbon, aromatic hydrocarbon, resin, and asphaltene (SARA) on carbonate minerals is gradually weakened for all surfactants. In the process of molecular dynamics simulation of surfactant stripping SARA, firstly, the surfactant mole

SUBMITTER: Hou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8308391 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature