Advances in the Field of Ultrasound-assisted Water-Oil Emulsion Separation: a Comprehensive Review

Crude oil is typically produced as a complex mixture containing saline water, leading to the formation of water-in-oil emulsions during fluid transport through pipelines and valves.These emulsions are further stabilized by natural components in crude oil, such as asphaltenes, resins, waxes, and suspended solids.The presence of water negatively affects crude oil production by increasing transportation costs and accelerating pipeline corrosion.To reduce reliance on chemical demulsifiers in oil processing, this study provides a comprehensive review of low-frequency ultrasound as an environmentally friendly alternative technique.The review discusses emulsion stabilization and destabilization mechanisms, with a focus on chemical, biological, membrane, electro-radiation, and microwave methods, in comparison with ultrasound-assisted separation.The findings highlight that low-frequency ultrasound has the potential to significantly improve emulsion breakdown efficiency while minimizing the environmental impact of conventional chemical treatments.This approach offers a promising pathway toward sustainable crude oil processing and enhanced operational efficiency.