5 Types of Emulsifier Bases

A demulsifier is an industrial liquid separator that separates solids from liquids or greases by using mechanical pressure or the physical force of moving air. Demulsifiers are usually a column-shaped group of specialty chemicals utilized to separate liquids, such as, oil from water, gasoline from oil, and sewage from sewage. They are most commonly used in the separation of crude oil, which is usually produced during the drilling and pumping process. A demulsifier combines several different chemicals to efficiently reduce, and sometimes eliminate, solids in aqueous solutions or greased oils.

Several different types of mechanical Demulsifiers have been designed. Some of these include primary fluids, primary/secondary fluid extractors, and secondary/ tertiary emulsifiers. A primary fluid demulsifier uses one volatile organic compound, usually methanol, to remove one hydroxyl molecule from a solution. The process is usually accomplished by increasing the amount of methanol contained in the demulsifier, thereby increasing the viscosity (or thickness) of the product. This type of demulsifier can be used for many different applications in the petroleum and chemical industries.

A primary fluid or hydrospray solvent extractor uses one or more volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), such as methylene chloride, to remove water-in-oil or oil-water emulsions. In this extraction process, the VOCs are introduced into the oil bath, mixed with the oil and water mixture, heated to evaporate the liquid, and then the mixture is drained off into another container. The demulsifier in this case is used to mix the mixture, heat it up, and dehydrate it so that the mixture will settle to the bottom. Then the mixture is separated out into its individual components, such as tails and roots. This method is used for a variety of applications including paper and rubber products, paint thinners, oils, grease, and polymers.

Another type of emulsifier is the oil demulsifier. This emulsifier uses one or more organic solvents to remove oil droplets from water-in-oil or water-in-gas emulsions. This type of emulsifier is most commonly used to remove grease from petroleum-based products. Some oil demulsifier units contain a carbon-fiber liner which, in addition to helping to reduce corrosion, also reduces the surface tension of the emulsifier itself.

The third type of emulsifier is the crude oil demulsifier. In the crude oil demulsifier, a coarse oil (such as peanut or walnut oil) is mixed with a carrier oil. Water is added to the mixture, and the unit is plugged (or "filled") with a demulsifier. This type of demulsifier is often used to emulsify mineral spirits, kerosene, gasoline, and other flammable liquids. However, this type of demulsifier does not provide a means to re-contain the water once it has been added to the carrier oil.

The fourth type of emulsifier is the silicone hydrosols. Silicone hydrosols are formed from fats by the process of hydrosolization, and contain silicone molecules. These types of oil demulsifier bases are useful for a number of applications; however, they have less strength than their oil-based cousins and tend to become damaged when exposed to harsh elements, such as chlorine, sunlight, and saltwater.