Preparation of surface modified nano-hydrotalcite and its applicaiton as a flow improver for crude oil

The poor fluidity of crude oil under low-temperature is one of the key issues affecting crude oil extraction and transportation, which requires a large amount of chemicals or energy. In order to solve this problem, anionic surfactants modified hydrotalcite was prepared in this study, its performance as flow improver was investigated, and the mechanism of improving the flowability of crude oil caused by the interaction between modified hydrotalcite and wax and resin in crude oil was explored. Anionic surfactant modified hydrotalcite has a high viscosity reduction effect on crude oil, and sodium dodecyl sulfate modified hydrotalcite (12S-MNH) has the most significant effect on the viscosity of poplar oil sample (YL). Further research was conducted on the viscosity reducing effect of 12S-MNH can reduce the viscosity of YL crude oil by 96.6% (31 °C) and depress the pour point by 14.0 °C at most. The modification of hydrotalcite was characterized by Fourier Infrared (FTIR), zeta potential particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and contact angle, which confirms the modification of hydrotalcite by sodium lauryl sulphate can prepare surface hydrophobic nanoparticle with smaller average particle size. Combined with DSC analysis and optical microscopy analysis of oil samples added with 12S-MNH, the mechanism of 12S-MNH on viscosity and pour point of crude oil was discussed.