Colloidal Dispersion Properties of Oil Emulsions in an Electromagnetic Field

The effect of electromagnetic field on colloidal dispersion properties of water-oil emulsions of two resinous low paraffin oils is studied. It is shown that the maximum result of water-oil emulsion stratification is achieved after 15 minute treatment at a frequency of 250 Hz and a voltage of 17 kV for 10 wt % of emulsions and 500 Hz and 15 kV for 30 wt % of emulsions, respectively. With increasing time of emulsion treatment, the size and number of droplets in the oil phase decrease and the residual water content of the treated emulsions after stratification does not exceed 0.5 wt %. In an electromagnetic field, the drop-drop coalescence process in the emulsion is intensified due to the rapid destruction of the armor shells of water globules, the formation of new resin-asphaltene aggregates of a larger or smaller size, and the redistribution of components between the dispersion medium and the dispersed phase.