The DOI matches its Crossref record; 67 of the 72 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Mechanisms, performance optimization and new developments in demulsification processes for oil and gas applications
Abstract
The present review discusses new developments and optimization of demulsification processes in oil and gas applications, and highlights the critical parameters. Discussed are the primary mechanisms of demulsification, as well as the strategies for developing optimum demulsifiers. Demulsification mechanisms are presented in the context of emulsion stability principles which are equally applicable to the destabilization of crude oil-water emulsions. The present paper is a concise overview of the various surfactant classes and their structure-activity relationship. It correlates demulsification optimization with surfactant properties and their applications. These classes include, but are not limited to pluronic block co-polymers, as well as amine- and siloxane based nonionic surfactants. The emphasis is on providing some strategies for achieving optimum crude oil-water separation efficiency by tuning the demulsifier to the intended application and crude oil properties. A brief overview of unconventional analytical techniques, which reach beyond the standard demulsifier evaluation methods, i.e., Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR), and in particular, low resolution NMR relaxometry, highlights their role in monitoring demulsification processes.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“A demulsifier with an RSN value < 13 is considered insoluble in water or hydrophobic, while 13 <RSN>17 is dispersible at low concentrations, and demulsifiers with an RSN > 17 are soluble in water or hydrophilic (Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018).”
From Demulsifier Selection Guideline for Destabilizing Water-in-Oil Emulsion for both non-EOR and EOR Application (2023) · cites this paper as Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018
In the citing paper
“Relative solubility number (RSN) is an empirically determined value that characterizes water solubility and the hydrophobic-hydrophilic character of a surfactant.”
From Demulsifier Selection Guideline for Destabilizing Water-in-Oil Emulsion for both non-EOR and EOR Application (2023) · cites this paper as Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018
In the citing paper
“Both references support the result that a lower RSN (less water soluble) demulsifier works better than a demulsifier with high RSN in resolving the emulsion for a crude oil with high asphaltene content.”
From Demulsifier Selection Guideline for Destabilizing Water-in-Oil Emulsion for both non-EOR and EOR Application (2023) · cites this paper as Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018
In the citing paper
“Grenoble and Trabelsi, (2018) also supported this theory and mentioned that asphaltenes, which have a more lipophilic character, require a more hydrophilic demulsifier (oil soluble or less water soluble demulsifier) to shift the hydrophilic lipophilic deviation (HLD) towards zero.”
From Demulsifier Selection Guideline for Destabilizing Water-in-Oil Emulsion for both non-EOR and EOR Application (2023) · cites this paper as Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018
In the citing paper
“Grenoble and Trabelsi agreed on the relationship of HLB with demulsifier performance by mentioning that the initial selection of the most suitable surfactant or surfactant combination based on the intrinsic HLB may be a valid starting point but should not be limiting for fine-tuning the system (Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018).”
From Demulsifier Selection Guideline for Destabilizing Water-in-Oil Emulsion for both non-EOR and EOR Application (2023) · cites this paper as Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018
Citations
Cites
Formation of droplets and bubbles in a microfluidic T-junction—scaling and mechanism of break-up
Garstecki, P., Fuerstman, M. J., Stone, H. A., & Whitesides, G. M. (2006) · Lab on a Chip · doi:10.1039/b510841a · Cited by 2,340
Alexandridis, P., & Hatton, T. A. (1995) · Colloids and Surfaces A Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects · doi:10.1016/0927-7757(94)03028-x · Cited by 1,923
Jirgensons, B., & Straumanis, M. E. (1962) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-009601-8.50011-5 · Cited by 735
Our current understanding of water-in-crude oil emulsions.
Sjöblom, J., Aske, N., Harald Auflem, I., Brandal, Ø., Erik Havre, T., Sæther, Ø., Westvik, A., Eng Johnsen, E., & Kallevik, H. (2003) · Advances in Colloid and Interface Science · doi:10.1016/s0001-8686(02)00066-0 · Cited by 476
The Theory of Emulsification, V
Bancroft, W. D. (1913) · The Journal of Physical Chemistry · doi:10.1021/j150141a002 · Cited by 463
Macroemulsion Stability: The Oriented Wedge Theory Revisited
Kabalnov, A. S., & Wennerström, H. (1996) · Langmuir · doi:10.1021/la950359e · Cited by 357
Dong, B., Zhao, X. S., Zheng, L., Zhang, J., Li, N., & Inoue, T. (2008) · Colloids and Surfaces A Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects · doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2007.12.001 · Cited by 353
Ordered micelle structuring in thin films formed from anionic surfactant solutions
Nikolov, A. D., & Wasan, D. T. (1989) · Journal of Colloid and Interface Science · doi:10.1016/0021-9797(89)90278-6 · Cited by 271
Holmqvist, P., Alexandridis, P., & Lindman, B. (1998) · The Journal of Physical Chemistry B · doi:10.1021/jp9730297 · Cited by 252
Kinetic Aspects of Emulsion Stabilization by Surfactants: A Microfluidic Analysis
Baret, J., Kleinschmidt, F., Harrak, A. E., & Griffiths, A. D. (2009) · Langmuir · doi:10.1021/la9000472 · Cited by 249
Flagged first, then by citations
5 of the 72 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Ko S, Kim ES, Park S, Daigle H, Milner TE, Huh C, Bennetzen MV, Geremia GA, SPE #181893-MS, SPE Annual Technical Conference, Sep 2016, Dubai. UAE.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–119 of 119
Obomanu, T., Joseph, A., & Godson, C. C. (2025) · Trends in Applied Sciences Research · doi:10.3923/tasr.2025.14.23
A kinetic approach to the mechanisms of sedimentation and coalescence of a loose-packed emulsion
Raynel, G. (2025) · Separation and Purification Technology · doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2025.134843
Liu, L., Li, X., Yuan, Y. F., Chang, C. H., Ji, Z., & Wu, X. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5414096
Wang, B., Guo, W., Deng, Y., Jiao, W., Du, L., Yue, J., & Zhang, B. (2025) · Polymers · doi:10.3390/polym17172386
Comparative study of Demulsifiers for Medium-Emulsified Crude Oil from the Zhagabulak fieldPreprint
Tastanova, L., Nurlybay, S., & Muratkali, A. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5553536
Valeeva, F. G., Gaynanova, G. A., Vasilieva, E. A., Vasileva, L. A., & Zakharova, L. Y. (2025) · Russian Chemical Bulletin · doi:10.1007/s11172-025-4800-6
Basher, N. A. (2025) · Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology · doi:10.1007/s13202-025-02041-4
Demulsifiers in petroleum processing: overview and effective application methods
Mukambetkaliуeva, A. N., Bissengaliyev, M. D., & Ikhsanov, K. A. (2025) · Kazakhstan journal for oil & gas industry · doi:10.54859/kjogi108904
Synthesis, characterization and application of new nanodemulsifier in oil industries
Basher, N. A. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-31152-5
Zhoucheng, L., Zhang, B., Zhao, Y., Chen, L., Jin, B., Ding, Y., Ma, W., Mi, Y., & Li, H. (2026) · Colloids and Surfaces A Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects · doi:10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.140008
Li, Z., Luo, H.-L., He, Q., Liu, X.-Q., Chen, L.-T., Li, S.-W., Li, R., Wang, W., & Zhao, J.-S. (2026) · Separation and Purification Technology · doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137767
Improving the efficiency of well production preparation
Gutorov, A., Almukhametova, E. M., & Khabibullin, A. (2026) · AIP conference proceedings · doi:10.1063/5.0318010
Zlobin, A., Andino-Enríquez, J. E., Gouëzec, T., Bourrel, M., Carreras, E. S., Passade-Boupat, N., Talini, L., Lequeux, F., & Panizza, P. (2026) · AIChE Journal · doi:10.1002/aic.70429
Roy, D., Naskar, B., & Bala, T. (2026) · Chemistry - An Asian Journal · doi:10.1002/asia.70847
Fu, Z., Zhang, Z. Q., Wen, B., Luo, Z., & Bai, B. (2026) · Fuel · doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2026.140545
Liao, K., Wu, B., Shao, M., Chen, H., Fu, L., Chang, A., Wang, D. G., Chen, L., Bai, Y., Wang, X., et al. (2026) · Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology · doi:10.1080/01932691.2026.2703717
Wang, Y., Zhao, Z., Hu, J., Chen, S., Li, H., Lv, X., Lin, H., Liu, Y., Chen, C., Yu, W., et al. (2026) · Chemical Engineering Journal · doi:10.1016/j.cej.2026.183543
Metadata
- Authors
- Grenoble, Z., & Trabelsi, S.
- Corresponding author
- Grenoble, Zlata
- Venue
- Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-10
- Volume
- 260
- Pages
- 32-45
- ISSN
- 0001-8686 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2885698720
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 5
- FWCI
- 0.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Advances in Colloid and Interface Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Texas at Austin
- Maersk Oil
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Analytical Chemistry › Petroleum Processing and Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Surfactants and Colloidal Systems
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Fuel Technology › Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques
- Keywords
- demulsification, crude oil-water emulsions, emulsion stability, demulsifiers, surfactants, structure-activity relationship, Pluronic block copolymers, nonionic surfactants, oil-water separation, near-infrared spectroscopy, NMR relaxometry
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
