Switchable-Hydrophilicity Triethylamine: Formation and Synergistic Effects of Asphaltenes in Stabilizing Emulsions Droplets

Abstract

In this study, SHT (switchable-hydrophilicity triethylamine, [Et3NH]·[HCO3]) has been synthesized and instrumentally characterized by Fourier transform–infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The operational synthesis conditions of SHT were optimized and determined at 25 °C, Et3N/H2O volume ratio of 1:2 and CO2 injection rate at 300 mL/min. When it was used to extract heavy oil from unconventional oil ore, it was found that it could break maltenes-in-water emulsions. When asphaltenes were present in the oil phase, it was observed that SHT could cooperate with asphaltenes. These results indicated that SHT works with asphaltenes, leading to synergistic effects in stabilizing oil–water (o/w) emulsions.