ИСТИНА

Asphaltenes are harmful components of heavy oil, requiring rational processing. Asphaltenes are macromolecules with a center consisting of a polyaromatic core and with the periphery comprising of long alkyl groups. These hyperbranched macromolecules have an extremely heterogeneous structure and contain heteroatoms and polar functional groups. This predetermines their surface activity. In this research, the preparation of emulsions using asphaltene macromolecules as a surfactant was considered. The effect of the concentrations of asphaltenes and dispersed phase on the stability and rheology of water-in-oil emulsions was investigated. Different organic media were taken into consideration as a continuous medium, including nonpolar hydrocarbons, oligomeric ethers and biodegradable esters. It was shown how with the increase in the concentration of asphaltenes there is a decrease in the droplets of the dispersed phase, as well as an increase in the viscosity of the continuous medium. As a result, as the content of asphaltenes increased, the viscoelasticity of the emulsions grew and their viscoplastic behavior became more pronounced. Using of asphaltenes allows obtaining stable in time both dilute and concentrated emulsions without helping of traditional surfactants.