The Use of Amines in the Stabilization of Acidic Hydrocarbons in Water Emulsions

Abstract The effect of amines in the aqueous phase, on the interfacial behavior of acidic crude oils/water systems was investigated. The results show over a wide range of concentrations, that water soluble aliphatic amines with less than four carbon atoms per molecule, promote an abrupt decrease in the interfacial tension of such systems, from 20 dynes/cm, to approximately 0.5 dynes/cm. When sodium chloride was incorporated into the aqueous phase, interfacial tension values lower than 10−2 dynes/cm were obtained and spontaneous emulsification detected. At any sodium chloride concentration, the interfacial tension decreased with the temperature. In heavy hydrocarbon in water emulsions prepared with a constant amine concentration, a decrease in the mean droplet diameter and in the electrophoresis mobility was observed as the sodium chloride concentration was increased. The results are explained, taking into account the properties of the amines, the influence of the electrolytes on the solubility of the carb...