Glycerol Carbonate as an Emulsifier for Light Crude Oil: Synthesis, Characterization, and Stability Analysis

Area of Science:

• Green Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Crude oil emulsification is crucial for various industrial processes, including enhanced oil recovery and spill remediation.
• Developing environmentally friendly and effective emulsifiers is a key challenge in the petroleum industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize glycerol carbonate (GC) and evaluate its performance as an emulsifier for light crude oil.
• To assess the stability and efficiency of GC-based emulsions under varying concentrations.
• To explore the potential of GC as a sustainable alternative in oil-related applications.

Main Methods:

• Glycerol carbonate synthesized via transesterification of glycerol and dimethyl carbonate, achieving 90% yield.
• Structural characterization using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy.
• Emulsification tests with light crude oil and water at different GC concentrations (60/40, 70/30, 80/20).
• Emulsion stability and droplet size analysis.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of glycerol carbonate with high yield and confirmed structure.
• GC demonstrated effective emulsification of light crude oil, forming stable emulsions for over 24 hours.
• Higher GC concentrations resulted in smaller droplet sizes, indicating enhanced emulsification efficiency.
• Particle size analysis confirmed improved emulsion stability with increased GC concentration.

Conclusions:

• Glycerol carbonate is a highly effective and stable emulsifier for light crude oil.
• Its biodegradability and low toxicity make it an environmentally friendly option.
• GC presents significant potential for applications in oil spill remediation and enhanced oil recovery.