Demulsification of crude oil emulsion using local emulsifiers
| dc.contributor.author | Okereke, Uchechukwu Justice | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-23T10:34:26Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-23T10:34:26Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-07 | |
| dc.description | This thesis is for the award of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) in Petroleum Engineering | |
| dc.description.abstract | This work is based on formulation of crude oil demulsifiers (emulsion breakers) from materials locally sourced. Laboratory experimental investigation was carried out to ascertain its effectiveness and efficiency in breaking crude oil emulsion. Materials used included locally made palm oil, potassium hydroxide (KOH), lemons, glycerin, for sample A (ALPHA), locally made liquid soap, starch, camphor, alum, castor oil, and distilled water for sample B (BETA), and the combination of sample A and B make up sample C (MEGA), demulsifier. 10ml volume of water and 10ml volume of oil were mixed together to produce 20ml volume of emulsion. Separation of water and oil called demulsification started at dose of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0ml concentration. Maximum 3.0ml concentration of both locally produced and commercially available demulsifiers were used to obtain maximum demulsificaion result. The three different demulsifier formulations made were tested on a crude oil emulsion sample from a Niger Delta oil field and subjected to a temperature of 30°C, 50°C and 70°C. A commercially available demulsifier (CAD) of the same quantity and under the same laboratory experimental condition, served as a basis for comparison (validation). The composition of the separated products consist of 20ml volume of crude oil emulsion: 10ml water and 10ml oil content. After demulsification, 8.2ml (82%), 9.5ml (95%) and 9.6 (96%) of the water content was separated leaving 11.8ml, 10.5ml, and 10.4 of remaining solution as a result of using maximum concentration of 3.0ml of the produced demulsifiers; ALPHA, BETA and MEGA, temperature of 70°C, and 10mins settling time. At an increase temperature of 30°C, 50°C, and 70°C, the demulsification efficiency recorded 65%, 76%, 82% water separation of ALPHA, 75%, 91% 95% of BETA, and 79%, 95% 96% of MEGA. The result of the treatment was a successful separation of oil and water using the sample, ALPHA, BETA and MEGA formulated demulsifier. The maximum separated water volume by the local demulsifier was 96%, at 70°C temperature and 1000rpm while that separated by CAD was 68% at the same condition. This showed that the locally formulated demulsifiers had better water separation capability than the commercially available (imported) demulsifier. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Okereke, U. J. (2025). Demulsification of crude oil emulsion using local emulsifiers [Unpublished Doctoral Thesis). Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repository.futo.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14562/2443 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Federal University of Technology, Owerri | |
| dc.rights | Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ | |
| dc.subject | Local | |
| dc.subject | emulsion | |
| dc.subject | temperature. concentration | |
| dc.subject | demulsfers | |
| dc.subject | Department of Petroleum Engineering | |
| dc.subject | Niger Delta | |
| dc.title | Demulsification of crude oil emulsion using local emulsifiers | |
| dc.type | Doctoral Thesis |