Application of α-Amylase as a Novel Biodemulsifier for Destabilizing Amphiphilic Polymer-Flooding Produced Liquid Treatment

Abstract

The performance and de-emulsification mechanism of α-amylase, a novel environmental friendly biodemulsifier in petroleum industry, was investigated at room temperature. The effects of α-amylase on the viscosity of amphiphilic polymer solution and de-emulsification rate were studied by changing the concentration of α-amylase, temperature and salinity. Polymer molecular weight, Zeta potential, interfacial film strength and interfacial tension were measured to investigate the de-emulsification mechanism of α-amylase. The results show that α-amylase is an efficient biodemulsifier to increase the de-emulsification rate of amphiphilic polymer emulsions. Hydrolysis of α-amylase to amphiphilic polymers destroys the structure of the amphiphilic polymer, thereby reduces the viscosity and the interfacial film strength of the system. Once de-emulsification is completed, the lower layer, i.e. the emulsified layer, will be clear. Thus, α-amylase can be applied as an effective de-emulsifier for amphiphilic polymer-stabilized O/W emulsion.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Comments

This study was financially supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project (2017ZX05009-004), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51774309 ), the Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum , Beijing (No. 462015YJRC033 ) and at Karamay (No. RCY2017A-01-001 ).

Keywords and Phrases

Amphiphilic polymer flooding; Biodemulsifier; Oil in water emulsion; α-Amylase

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0960-8524

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jul 2018

PubMed ID

29574315

Link to Full Text

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