Efficiency of N-Decyl-N-benzyl-N-methylglycine and N-Dodecyl-N-benzyl-N-methylglycine surfactants for flow improvers and pour point depressants

Paraffin wax deposition from middle distillate fuel low temperature is one of the serious and long standing problems in petroleum industry. At low temperature, the crystals of wax easily form impermeable cakes, which can block filters and eventually lead to engine failure. The mechanism of the depressants action has been suggested according the adsorption of each additive. Adsorption of the additive on the surface of the wax particles inhibits their growth and alters the crystal habits through micelle core. As the results the surface and thermodynamic parameters confirm the suggested mechanism and the decreasing of pour point. Many methods have been attempted for the prevention of the crystals mating together. Some amphoteric surfactants N-Decyl-N-benzyl-N-methylglycine(AB) and N-Dodecyl-N-benzyl-N-methylglycine(CD) were prepared in the laboratory. The physicochemical chemical characteristics were investigated. The adsorption behavior of these surfactants at oil/air interface was investigated by measuring the surface tension and interfacial tension as function of concentration. Surface properties, in particular the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the maximum surface excess (ΓCMC) and the minimum surface area (AMIN) were measured. It is found the surface and thermodynamic properties of the prepared surfactants depend on their hydrocarbon chain length. Also it is found that there is a good relation between surface properties of the additive and their efficiency in depressing the pour point. The mechanism of the depressants action has been suggested according the adsorption of each additive. Adsorption of the additive on the surface of the wax particles inhibits their growth and alters the crystal habits through micelle core. This is resulted in a multilayer, more isotropic wax crystal, and thus only a fixed amount of wax separates at any given temperatures.