Molecular Dynamics Study of the Coalescence of Water Droplets with Anionic Asphaltene Molecules under a DC Electric Field.

ABSTRACT: During the extraction of crude oil, water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions are mostly formed at a high pH, where water droplets can be stabilized by anionic asphaltene molecules on the surface. The study of driving forces in the electro-coalescence of these emulsions is fundamental to the efficient design of the oil dehydration process. We studied by molecular dynamics the electro-coalescence of two asphaltene-laden droplets suspended in n-hexane as a model oil. The findings indicate that a low number of anionic asphaltenes per water droplet and a moderate electric field strength (E) allow optimal droplet-droplet coalescence conditions to be reached, which is favored by high electrical polarization of water droplets. Under these conditions, it has been found that the diffusion and pola

SUBMITTER: Lange Bregado J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12445008 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature