Enhancement of Efficiency of Water Removal from Bangestan Crude Oil by Silica Nanoparticles Using Imidazolium-based Ionic Liquids

The effect of coating silica nanoparticles by several 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquids of [Rmim][PF6] general formula (R= C10, C12, and C14) on the water removal efficiency of silica nanoparticles from crude oil emulsions have been studied in this study. The ionic liquids have been prepared and characterized by comparing their 1HNMR and FT-IR spectra with those reported in the literature. In addition, the effects of factors including cation alkyl chain length and concentration of the ionic liquids prepared on the water separation efficiency of the demulsifier have also been investigated to determine the optimal values for the chain length and concentration of the ionic liquid. [C14mim][PF6] ionic liquid at a concentration of 1200 ppm was shown to be the most efficient ionic liquid among the ionic liquids studied. The water separation efficiency achieved using coated nanosilica under optimal conditions was 93.3%.