Microfiltration of saline crude oil emulsions: Effects of dispersant and salinity.

Journal: Journal of hazardous materials
Published Date: Dec 5, 2020

Abstract

Dispersants reduce oil-water interfacial tension making the separation of oil-water emulsions challenging. In this study, crude oil stabilized by the dispersant, Corexit EC9500A, was emulsified in synthetic sea water using a range of Corexit/crude oil concentration ratios (up to 10% by volume). With an interfacial tension of only 8.0 mJ/m at 0.5 mL(Corexit)/L, approximately 50% of the crude was dispersed into droplets <10 µm. Near complete rejection of oil in crossflow separation tests was accompanied by a precipitous flux decline attributable in part to dispersant- and salinity-induced decrease in membrane's oleophobicity (4.2 mJ/m decrease in surface energy). Screening of electrostatic interactions prompted oil coalescence that occurred at the membrane surface but not in the bulk of the emulsion. Real-time in situ visualization by Direct Observation Through Membrane gave direct evidence of surface coalescence pointing to both its detrimental effects (spread of contiguous films) and possible advantages (removal of large droplets by crossflow shear).

Authors

  • Şeyma Kücük
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Electronic address: seymakucuk1@gmail.com.
  • Charifa A Hejase
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Electronic address: hejasech@msu.edu.
  • Iryna S Kolesnyk
    Department of Chemistry, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kyiv 04070, Ukraine. Electronic address: kolesnik.irina.naukma@gmail.com.
  • Jia Wei Chew
    School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637459, Singapore; Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore. Electronic address: jchew@ntu.edu.sg.
  • Volodymyr V Tarabara
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Electronic address: tarabara@msu.edu.

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