Effect of Additives on Solubilization of Sulfur Compounds in the Crude Oil by Tergitol Series Nonionic Surfactants

摘要

In this study, the effects of additives such as ionic surfactant and cosurfactant were studied on the solubilization of sulfur compounds contained in the crude oil by Tergitol series nonionic surfactants. It was found that the addition of an ionic surfactant such as sodium oleate, potassium oleate, CTAB and DTAB did not enhance solubilization capacity of Tergitol series nonionic surfactant. On the other hand, the addition of a long-chain alcohol as a cosurfactant increased the solubilization of sulfur compounds in the crude oil. The effect of alcohol was found to become reduced with an increase in the amount of crude oil used mainly due to partitioning phenomena of an nonionic surfactant. The enhancement of solubilizing capacity of Tergitol series nonionic surfactant with addition of a cosurfactant was associated with a decrease in interfacial tension between crude oil and surfactant solution. The pH of Tergitol nonionic surfactant solution did not affect the solubilization of sulfur compounds. Finally, it was found that the growth of sulfur reducing microoganisms was not greatly affected by both addition of nonionic surfactant and cosurfactant.