Synthesis of styrene-maleic anhydride amide comb-polymers and their effect on waxy oil gelation

Comb polymers, poly(styrene-maleic anhydrate amide) (SMAC) with different amount of alkyl side-groups and carboxyl groups were synthesized. They could reduce paraffin crystals size and changed crystal shape in crude oils. The rheological results showed that they are especially effective on yield stress reduction for crude oils containing asphaltenes due to the interactions between benzene groups and remained carboxyl groups in polymer backbone with asphaltenes in crude oil. SMAC could act as a dispersant for asphaltenes from self-association and thus improved the flow ability of crude oils. This plus the ability to modify paraffin crystallization makes SMAC ideal candidate against wax deposition for crude oils especially those contain asphaltenes. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 231st ACS National Meeting (Atlanta, GA 3/26-30/2006).