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Pour point depression and flow improvement of waxy crude oil using polyethylene glycol esters of cashew nut shell liquid
- Source :
- Applied Petrochemical Research. 11:199-208
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Wax crystallization and deposition is a major flow assurance problem in production and transportation of waxy crude oil. Conventional flow improvers are mainly high molecular weight synthetic polymers, many of which are eco-toxic. Bio-based flow improvers derived from natural products are promising as inexpensive, eco-friendly alternatives to existing products. In this study, natural cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) extracted from waste shells ofAnacardium occidentalewas esterified with polyethylene glycol (PEG). CNSL derivative reduced the pour point of waxy crude oil by 12 °C at 1000 ppm. The effects of CNSL derivatives on wax crystal morphology and micro-structure were studied by cross-polarized microscopy. Micrographs were processed and analyzed with ImageJ software. Addition of CNSL derivatives to oil resulted in changes in wax crystal morphology and micro-structure evidenced by a reduction in average crystal Feret diameter and aspect ratio and increase in boundary fractal dimension, indicative of formation of increasing number of smaller, rounder crystals. Effect of the additives on flow properties of the waxy oil was determined using a co-axial cylinder rotational viscometer. Dynamic viscosity of oil at shear rate of 17 sā1was reduced by 79.7ā90.5%. CNSL-PEG esters show good prospects as low-cost additives for production, storage and pipeline transportation of waxy crude oil.
- Subjects :
- chemistry.chemical_classification
Wax
Materials science
Pour point
Flow assurance
Feret diameter
02 engineering and technology
Polyethylene glycol
Polymer
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
law.invention
Shear rate
chemistry.chemical_compound
020401 chemical engineering
chemistry
Chemical engineering
law
visual_art
visual_art.visual_art_medium
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
0204 chemical engineering
Crystallization
0210 nano-technology
General Environmental Science
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 21905533 and 21905525
- Volume :
- 11
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Applied Petrochemical Research
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........2f2ddf713f3138726fd87910a60b30c8