Preparation and evaluation of ethoxylated jatropha oil fatty acids as de-emulsifier for crude oil emulsion

Abstract EN

Oil is produced from reservoirs in association with natural formation water or mixed formation during water injection.

Removal of water is an essential step in petroleum refining for many technical reasons.

Nonconventional homologous surfactants derived from natural oil such as Jatropha oil were synthesized to replace the commercial surfactants.

The synthesis comprises two steps: first hydrolysis of the Jatropha oil followed by ethoxylation.

The prepared ethoxylated Jatropha oil fatty acids exhibit high tendency toward de-emulsification of water in oil emulsion