Influence of montmorillonite on oil and water interfacial properties and separation of Shengli crude oil

In-house laboratary investigation was done for the effects of montmorillonite on the oil and water interfacial properties and their separation of Shengli crude oil. The results show that with the absorption of the interfacial active components of oil, the montmorillonite gathers at the oil-water interface and takes part in the forming of interfacial film, and the interfacial film strength is improved. And the interfacial film strength increases with the montmorillonite concentration increasing. Moreover the oil-mineral aggregates(OMA) can be formed by the reaction of montmorillonite and oil droplets in emulsion containing montmorillonite, and the zeta potential of OMA is higher than that of oil droplets of crude oil and particles of montmorillonite. With the float of OMA to the upper layer of the emulsions formed of montmorillonite and crude oil and other chemical materials, there is more water entering the layer. Therefore, the stability of the O/W emulsion is enhanced and the separation of oil and water becomes more difficult.