Employment of Low Frequency Ultrasonic Waves Assisted with Silica Particles for the Separation of W/O Emulsions

Heavy fuel oil is a complicated amalgamation that generally include substantial quantities of salt water, leading to stable emulsions.As these fluids traverse pipelines and constricted valves, the water contained is emulsified, resulting in "water-in-oil" emulsions.These emulsions are stabilized by natural compounds found in heavy oil, including asphaltenes, resins, waxes, and solid particulates.Water contamination in heavy fuel oil is detrimental, resulting in various issues such as pipeline damage and elevated transportation expenses.Consequently, it is imperative to devise efficient water-oil separation systems, considering economic and environmental considerations.This study seeks to examine the impact of low-frequency ultrasound (20 kHz) on the demulsification of water-in-heavy fuel oil emulsions, while enhancing separation efficiency by the utilization of silica particles.Silica particles measuring smaller than 53 m were utilized at several concentrations (5,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, and 25,000) ppm to enhance separation efficiency.The impact of ultrasonic exposure length (3,6,9,12,15) minutes at 100 W power and 70C was evaluated.The findings indicated that the optimal separation efficiency (85%) was attained using 20,000 ppm silica nanoparticle powder, utilizing a 15-minute exposure duration and 100 W power.The findings validate that the integration of ultrasound and silica nanoparticles constitutes an efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective method for the separation of water from heavy fuel oil emulsions.