| Popis: |
In this chapter, we investigate the behaviour of biocompatible mixtures in the treatment of Venezuelan extra heavy oil, using the non-ionic surfactant Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) and low molecular weight linear n-alcohols with even and odd numbers of carbon atoms. Venezuelan extra heavy oil was recovered from mixtures that contained water, NaCl, polysorbate 80, and n-alcohols ranging from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Water retained (in enhanced oil), density, conductivity, viscosity, drop weight, and retained oil (in the borosilicate glass tube) were measured and compared for the different n-alcohols in the mixture. We find that the mean (10.99 mS) of the conductivities of the aqueous phase from mixtures with C-2 – C-5 alcohols is statistically different and higher than the mean (4.91 mS) of the conductivities of the aqueous phase from mixtures with C-6 – C-8 alcohols. Among the properties of the recovered oil we find that there is a direct and oscillating correlation of viscosity and water retained in the crude oil fraction, and an inverse correlation of both with drop weight, indicating that the viscoelastic properties of recovered crude oil after treatment are a function of the n-alcohol in the mixture. Oil retained in the borosilicate glass tube as a function of the carbon number of the n-alcohol is directly proportional to toxicity of the alcohol (expressed as A) and ovality of the alcohol (expressed as molecular volume, \(\uptheta \)3D), and inversely proportional to acentric factor of the alcohol (expressed as \(\upomega \)). Moreover, the polarity, shape, and size associated with the number of carbons in the n-alcohol may be responsible for the high conductivity (10.99 mS) in the aqueous phase released after treatment with the C-2 – C-5 alcohols and the low conductivity (4.91 mS) in the aqueous phase released after treatment with the C-6–C-8 alcohols. |
