Study of Live Oil Wax Precipitation with High-Pressure Micro-Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Abstract

For live oils, the effect of pressure (amount of dissolved gas) on the wax appearance temperature (WAT) can be quite pronounced. Here, we describe the use of high-pressure micro-differential scanning calorimetry (HP-μDSC) as an effective technique to determine the WAT for live oils. The effect of increasing equilibration time on WAT is described and compared to predictions from a thermodynamic model.