Adsorption of Crude Oil Components on Mineral Surfaces Followed by Quartz Crystal Microbalance and Contact Angle Measurements: The Effect of Oil Composition, Simulated Weathering and Dispersants

Abstract

Improved knowledge of interactions between crude oil and solid surfaces is of great importance for understanding oil spill responses as well as oil spill behaviour on land and in the near shore environment. Here, the goal was to study how crude oils with various physicochemical properties interacted with model shoreline surfaces. In addition, the influence of simulated weathering and addition of dispersant was investigated for selected crude oils. A quartz crystal microbalance was used to follow the adsorption from 13 different crude oils on silica, aluminosilicate and calcium carbonated surfaces, while the corresponding wettability alterations were followed by contact angle measurements. The polar crude oil components adsorbed in considerably higher amounts on the calcium carbonate surfaces than on the silica and aluminosilicate surfaces. The simulated weathering of oils resulted in increased adsorption onto both the silica and aluminosilicate surface, while it had little effect on the calcium carbonate surface. The presence of dispersants generally reduced the amounts adsorbed on the surfaces. In the presence of seawater, the crude oil with higher total acid number interacted strongest with the calcium carbonate surface.

Dynamic wettability alteration for combined low salinity brine injection and surfactant flooding on silica surface

“…Next, the crystals were dried with air and placed in 20,000 ppm aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate solution for at least 30 min. Afterward the crystals were rinsed with milli-Q water and dried with air again [27,[29][30][31][32]. The custom-made crystal holder, Fig.…”

Review on Application of Nanotechnology for Asphaltene Adsorption, Crude Oil Demulsification, and Produced Water Treatment

“…The surface acidity and basicity impacts of metal oxide NPs on asphaltene adsorption were investigated by several authors ,− who concluded that the extent of acid–base interactions and electrostatic attractions may be the main adsorption mechanisms. It has been previously suggested that the basic components in crude oils were mostly present in the form of asphaltene fractions . Therefore, metal oxides with the highest density of surface acidic sites demonstrated the greatest capacity and affinity toward asphaltenes.…”

“…It has been previously suggested that the basic components in crude oils were mostly present in the form of asphaltene fractions. 81 Therefore, metal oxides with the highest density of surface acidic sites demonstrated the greatest capacity and affinity toward asphaltenes. Among different types of metal oxides/ salts used for adsorption studies of asphaltenes, it was reported that the adsorption capacity of NPs was decreased as follows: NiO > Fe 2 O 3 > WO 3 > MgO > CaCO 3 > ZrO 2 .…”

A Role for Newly Developed Sorbents in Remediating Large‐Scale Oil Spills: Reviewing Recent Advances and Beyond

“…[60][61][62][63] The oil weathering process involves spreading, evaporation, dispersion, emulsification, and oxidation (Figure 2). [64][65][66][67][68][69] Although spreading and horizontal dispersion both begin immediately once a spill occurs, [70][71][72] spreading stopped within a day, while dispersion continues for up a week. [73] For many oil spills, evaporation is the process that will affect the mass balance.…”