Instituto Mexicano Del Petroleo

Rafael Rodriguez Dominguez

Jorge Arturo Aburto Anell

Rafael Martinez Palou

Alba Adriana Vallejo Cardona

Romeo Jesus Reyes Avila

Ricardo Ceron Camacho

Benjamin Chavez Gomez

Alba Adriana Vallejo Cordona

The present invention relates to a process for breaking of preferred, but not exclusive, oil-in-water emulsions (O/W) and water separation from crude oil emulsions using surfactants as demulsifying agents derived from natural or synthetic amino acids, which are water soluble. The surfactants are of the methanesulfonate series of glycine ester derivatives with hydrocarbon chains, preferably between Cand C, at a concentration between 450 and 900 ppm, at a temperature range of 30 to 60&#xb0; C. The removal of water from the crude oil by using natural or synthetic amino acid-based demulsifiers is highly efficient (about 80%) and complemented with the action of an electric field typically used in electrostatic separators in crude oil terminals ad oil refineries, increasing the efficiency of water separation substantially, and enabling the production of dehydrated crude oil for further processing.

Process for demulsification of crude oil in water emulsions by means of natural or synthetic amino acid-based demulsifiers

Growing community of inventors

Mexico City, Mexico

Rafael Rodriguez Dominguez