Anionic Acrylate Polymers for Oil-Water Emulsion Demulsification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for demulsifying and clarifying oil-water emulsions in the petroleum industry are complex and inefficient, relying on cationic polymers that can be toxic and ineffective, with no prior use of hydrophobically modified or surfactant-modified anionic acrylate copolymers for separating oil and water dispersions or emulsions generated in oilfield operations.
Innovation Solution
The use of anionic polymers based on acrylate monomers and their esters, which are hydrophobically modified or lightly crosslinked, to demulsify and clarify oil-water emulsions by reducing viscosity and improving flow characteristics, and potentially reducing environmental harm compared to cationic polymers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cationic polymers are used for demulsifying and clarifying oil-water emulsions, then emulsion separation can be achieved, but toxicity and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the polymer from cationic to anionic charge type, and modifies the acrylate monomer structure with hydrophobic groups. This parameter change maintains demulsification effectiveness while reducing toxicity and environmental harm associated with traditional cationic polymers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymer structure combining anionic acrylate monomers with hydrophobic modifications. This composite material integrates both the charge characteristics for emulsion breaking and hydrophobic properties for oil separation, achieving effective demulsification with reduced environmental impact
2Reliability
If traditional demulsification methods are used, then oil-water separation can be achieved, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anionic polymer demonstrates multi-functionality by effectively demulsifying various types of oil-water emulsions (water-in-oil, oil-in-water, and crude oil emulsions) across different petroleum industry applications. This universal effectiveness simplifies the overall process by eliminating the need for multiple specialized treatments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary process steps from traditional demulsification methods. By using a single anionic polymer additive that directly breaks emulsions and facilitates separation, the complex multi-step processes are reduced to a simpler, more efficient operation
3Reliability
If conventional polymers are used for emulsion breaking, then separation can occur, but efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies key parameters of the polymer including charge type (anionic), monomer structure (hydrophobically modified acrylate), and molecular weight. These parameter changes significantly improve demulsification efficiency by enhancing the polymer's ability to interact with and break emulsion structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by using anionic polymers instead of traditional cationic polymers for demulsification. This inversion, combined with hydrophobic modifications, creates a more efficient mechanism for breaking emulsions and separating oil-water phases
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The anionic polymers effectively break and separate oil-water emulsions, facilitating further processing and handling while being less toxic than traditional cationic polymers, addressing the complexity and inefficiency of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
The anionic polymers effectively break and separate oil-water emulsions, facilitating further processing and handling while being less toxic than traditional cationic polymers
Implementation Method 2
Clarification of such demulsified oilfield water typically involves use of acrylate polymers, cationic polymers, cationic polyelectrolytes, and water-soluble amphiphilic polymers to flocculate suspended oily and particulate materials
Implementation Method 3
The use of anionic polymers based on acrylate monomers and their esters, which are hydrophobically modified or lightly crosslinked, to demulsify and clarify oil-water emulsions
Data Source
AI summary
Oil-water dispersions and emulsions derived from petroleum industry operations are demulsified and clarified using anionic polymers. Formation of such oil-water dispersion and emulsions is inhibited and mitigated using the anionic polymers. The anionic polymers comprise: A) 2-80 % by weight of at least one C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer; B) 15-80 % by weight of at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer; C) 1-50 % by weight of one or more of the following monomers: C1) at least one nonionic vinyl surfactant ester; or C2) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having longer polymer chains than monomer B), or C3) at least one nonionic urethane monomer; and, optionally, D) 0-5 % by weight of at least one crosslinker.