Effect of comb-type copolymers with various pendants on flow ability of heavy crude oil

Jun Xu, Hejian Jiang, Tao Li, Xiaoming Wei, Tongshuai Wang, Jing Huang, Weina Wang, Anthony L. Smith, Jie Wang, Rui Zhang, Yisheng Xu, Li Li, Robert K. Prud'Homme, Xuhong Guo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

Modification of the paraffin crystallization and flow ability of waxy crude oil is of vital importance during transportation and restart processes at low temperature. To investigate the influence of pendants in comb-type copolymers on the cold flow ability of crude oil, maleic anhydride-α-octadecene copolymer and its derivatives with octadecyl (MAC), phenyl (AMAC), or naphthalene (NMAC) pendants were synthesized. These derivatives, when added to waxy crude oil, change the size and quantity of the paraffin crystals observed by polarizing light microscopy (PLM), improve the flow ability of waxy oils by reducing the viscosity and yield stress revealed by rheometer, and decrease the paraffin crystallization temperature and quantity of wax precipitation determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). AMAC had the greatest effect followed by MAC and NMAC, respectively. It seems that small aromatic pendants improve the flow ability of waxy oils by adsorbing on the surface of asphaltenes, while large aromatic pendants impair the assembly of copolymers with asphaltenes by a higher steric hindrance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5204-5212
Number of pages9
JournalIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume54
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - May 20 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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