Biobased Emulsion Breakers: Investigating Red Onion Skin and Orange Mesocarp Extracts for Oilfield Application

Abstract

Oilfield emulsions pose significant operational challenges, affecting crude oil recovery efficiency and refining processes. Conventional chemical demulsifiers, often derived from petroleum-based compounds, pose environmental and economic concerns due to their toxicity and high production costs. This study investigates the potential of plant-based alternatives—Red Onion Skin Extract (ROSE) and Orange Mesocarp Extract (OME) - as environmentally friendly, cost-effective demulsifiers. This novel approach leverages the bioactive compounds in these extracts to destabilize oil-water emulsions efficiently. Four demulsifier formulations were developed: ROSE, OME, ROSE-NaBenzoate (ROSE-NaB), and OME-NaBenzoate (OME-NaB). Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the presence of active functional groups responsible for interfacial activity. The performance of these biobased demulsifiers was evaluated in simulated oilfield emulsions, considering the effect of key parameters such as concentration (0.2%–1.0% w/v), water content (60% and 80%), and chemical structure of the demulsifier at constant temperature of 70°C and a contact time of 180 mins. Results demonstrate that increasing demulsifier concentration significantly improves water separation efficiency. Notably, OME-NaB exhibited the highest efficiency, outperforming both the unmodified extracts and a commercial demulsifier at concentrations above 0.5% w/v. The modified formulations (ROSE-NaB and OME-NaB) showed superior destabilization efficiency due to enhanced hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB), electrostatic charge neutralization, and interfacial adsorption, leading to accelerated coalescence of water droplets. Water separation performance followed the trend: OME-NaB > ROSE-NaB > Commercial Demulsifier-NaB > Commercial Demulsifier > OME > ROSE. The findings suggest that NaBenzoate-modified formulations enhance demulsification efficiency, making OME-NaB a promising candidate for industrial application. This study highlights the potential of OME-NaB as a sustainable demulsifier alternative to mitigate reliance on petroleum-based chemicals, reducing environmental impact while offering cost advantages. These insights contribute to the development of greener, efficient, and economically viable solutions for oilfield operations, aligning with global efforts toward sustainable petroleum production.