Synthesis of MRGO Nanocomposites as a Potential Photocatalytic Demulsifier for Crude Oil-in-Water Emulsion

• Main Authors: Zhen Yin Lau, Ko Shyn Tan, Cheng Seong Khe, Chin Wei Lai, Kok Yeow You, Wai Kian Tan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: Journal of Composites Science
• Subjects: magnetite-reduced graphene oxide; photocatalytic demulsification; crude oil-in-water emulsion
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/5/7/174

Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion has been a major concern for the petroleum industry. A cost-effective magnetite-reduced graphene oxide (MRGO) nanocomposite was synthesized to study the demulsification process of emulsion using said nanocomposite under solar illumination. Characterization data show that the magnetite was successfully deposited on reduced graphene oxide through redox reaction at varying loading amounts of magnetite. Demulsification of the O/W emulsion using MRGO nanocomposite shows that in general the demulsification efficiency was dependent on the loading amount of Fe₃O₄ on the RGO sheet. It was proposed that the surfactant hydroxyl groups have an affinity towards Fe₃O₄, which the loading amount was directly proportionate to available active site in Fe₃O₄. As the loading amount increases, charge recombination centers on the RGO sheet would increase, effectively affecting the charge distribution within MRGO structure.