Differential scanning calorimetry characterization of water-in-oil emulsions from Mexican crude oils

A simplified equation relating water droplet size distribution to crystallization temperature, determined from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves of aqueous emulsions of petroleum is reported in this article. A series of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions was prepared by dispersion of water in different Mexican crude oils; in a classical DSC experiment, these emulsions were submitted to a regular heating and cooling cycle within temperatures including freezing and heating of dispersed water. The Z-average diameters of the water drops (Ddz) were estimated this way and correlated with petroleum composition.