Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Wilayah Persekutuan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: chengseong.khe@utp.edu.my
  • 3 Centre for Advanced Industrial Technology, University of Malaysia Pahang, Pekan Campus, 26600, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia; Department of Physics, Al-Qalam University Katsina, PMB 2137, Katsina, Katsina, Nigeria
  • 4 Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia
  • 5 Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre (NANOCAT), Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 6 School of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
  • 7 HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia; Department of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, 602105, India
  • 8 Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Centre for Herbal Pharmacology and Environmental Sustainability, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, 603103, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: kuanshiong.khoo@hotmail.com
Environ Res, 2024 Feb 15;243:117840.
PMID: 38081342 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117840

Abstract

Since the establishment of the first global refinery in 1856, crude oil has remained one of the most lucrative natural resources worldwide. However, during the extraction process from reservoirs, crude oil gets contaminated with sediments, water, and other impurities. The presence of pressure, shear forces, and surface-active compounds in crude oil leads to the formation of unwanted oil/water emulsions. These emulsions can take the form of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, where water droplets disperse continuously in crude oil, or oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, where crude oil droplets are suspended in water. To prevent the spread of water and inorganic salts, these emulsions need to be treated and eliminated. In existing literature, different demulsification procedures have shown varying outcomes in effectively treating oil/water emulsions. The observed discrepancies have been attributed to various factors such as temperature, salinity, pH, droplet size, and emulsifier concentrations. It is crucial to identify the most effective demulsification approach for oil/water separation while adhering to environmental regulations and minimizing costs for the petroleum sector. Therefore, this study aims to explore and review recent advancements in two popular demulsification techniques: chemical demulsification and magnetic nanoparticles-based (MNP) demulsification. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are assessed, with the magnetic approach emerging as the most promising due to its desirable efficiency and compliance with environmental and economic concerns. The findings of this report are expected to have a significant impact on the overall process of separating oil and water, benefiting the oil and gas industry, as well as other relevant sectors in achieving the circular economy.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.