FUW Trends in Science & Technology Journal, www.ftstjournal.com e-ISSN: 24085162; p-ISSN: 20485170; April, 2017: Vol. 2 No. 1A pp 114 – 117 114 EFFECT OF FLOW IMPROVER BLENDS ON CRUDE OIL RHEOLOGY Caleb Abiodun Popoola 1 *, Jide Ogundola 2 and Samson Aderemi Kolaru 3 1 Food Science & Technology Department, Federal University Wukari, PMB1020, Taraba State, Nigeria 2 Prototype Engineering Development Institute (PEDI), Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria 3 Standard Organization of Nigeria, Calabar, Cross-River State, Nigeria Received: November 11, 2016 Accepted: January 08, 2017 Abstract: Arterial blockage in the petroleum industry is mostly due to the deposition of heavy organics like wax from petroleum fluids. Wax is an undesirable constituent in crude oil due to high pour points and high viscosity index. De-waxing operation is broadly classified into two types namely: one with the use of solvents and other without solvents. In this work, xylene, n-hexane, kerosene and triethanolamine (TEA) were used for de-waxing operation. Different percentages of these solvents were added to the crude oil sample and their effect on the crude oil flow properties was evaluated. All these solvents evaluated improved the flow property of crude oil. Kerosene and triethanolamine (TEA) blends was more effective than the other solvents. Keywords: Blends, crude oil,pour point, rheology, Triethanolamine (TEA), Xylene Introduction The demand for crude oil is increasing daily worldwide. This is due to its importance as the world’s major source of energy and as the raw material for the manufacture of a wide variety of products for daily living. Industries like agro-allied, refining, petrochemical and textile to mention but few depend on oil. In 2008, oil provided about 34% of the world’s energy needs, and oil is expected to continue to provide a leading component of the world’s energy mix (Natural Resources Canada, 2010). Petrowiki (2015) described crude oil as a complex mixture of hydrocarbon produced in liquid form, which consist of a large number of petroleum compounds mixed together. These compounds are composed of hydrogen and carbon in various ways and proportions. Each compound is made up of different portions of the two elements. Rarely are two crude oils found that are identical and certainly never are two crude oils made up of the same proportions of the various compounds. These petroleum compounds are Paraffins and Asphaltenes. Paraffins are relatively high molecular weight. Asphaltenes are very high weight polycyclic aromatic molecules; held in suspension by surrounding asphaltic, resins (maltenes). Whenever there is changes in the environmental condition of the area where the crude oil is been found, each petroleum compounds contained will be affected. For instance, alkanes are deposited as solid (wax) when temperature drops below the cloud point for the particular crude oil. Asphaltenes are also deposited whenever there is reduction in the temperature or pressure or by destabilizing factors that act on the resins such as contact with acid, CO 2 or aliphatic solvents (Petrowiki, 2015). According to Ajienka & Ikoku (1997), the deposition of these waxes affects the flow of the crude oil and its production. In order to control this deposition to improve the flow and production of the crude oil, the rheological properties of this crude oil such as pour point, viscosity and APIg need to be changed and this can be achieved by adding solvents. The common solvents that can be added to improve crude oil flow properties are: xylene, n-hexane, kerosene, and triethanolamine (TEA). Additions of these solvents to crude oil will reduce the wax concentration in the crude oil and improve the flow of the crude oil. Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon mixture consisting of a benzene ring with two methyl groups at various substituted positions. It is a colourless, sweet-smelling major petrochemical produced by catalytic reforming and also by coal carbonization in the manufacture of coke fuel. Xylene is a frequent component of paraffin solvents, used when the tubing becomes clogged with paraffin wax (Kandyala et al., 2010). According to Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2015), n-hexane is a chemical made from crude oil. Pure n-Hexane is a colourless liquid, odourless, with boiling points between 50 o C and 70 o C. It is highly flammable, and its vapours can be explosive. It is widely used as cheap, relatively safe, and easily evaporated non-polar solvent. Most of the n-hexane used in industry is mixed with similar solvents. Kerosene, according to Wikipedia (2015), is a thin, clear liquid formed from hydrocarbon obtained from the fractional distillation of crude oil between 150 o C and 275 o C. It has the flash point between 37 o C and 65 o C, auto- ignition temperature of 220 o C and its pour point depends on grade, with commercial aviation fuel standardized at – 47 o C. As a petroleum product miscible with many industrial liquids, it is used as an additive in diesel fuel to prevent gelling and waxing in cold temperatures. Triethanolamine (TEA) is a part of a class of organic compounds called ethanolamines; combines the properties of amines and alcohols. It is a viscous organic compound that is both tertiary amine and triol (with three alcohol groups) (IARC, 2012). It is a weak base, colourless and has a mild ammoniacal odour. TEA has molecular formular C 6 H 15 NO 3 with relative molecular mass of 149.19, boiling point of 335.4 o C, melting point of 20.5 o C, density of 1.1242 g/cm 3 at 20 o C, vapour pressure less than 1.3 pa at 20 o C (DOW, 2010). It is miscible with water, acetone, ethanol and methanol; soluble in chloroform and slightly soluble in benzene, diethyl ether and lignans (Lide & Milne, 1996). TEA is produced from the reaction of ethylene oxide with aqueous ammonia. It is used primarily as an emulsifier and surfactant. It is a common ingredient in formulations used for both industrial and consumer products. The triethanolamine neutralizes fatty acids, adjusts and buffers the pH and solubilises oil and other ingredients that are not completely soluble in water (Popoola et al., 2015). It reacts with acids to form salt and soap and is also used as flow improver additive in crude oil (DOW, 2010). Viscosity reduction is imminent to improve mobility of heavy crude oils; doping with solvent like triethanolamine (TEA), which keeps the wax in solution, is essential in ensuring oil mobility. Based on evaluation of preliminary studies, Taiwo et al., (2012), showed triethanolamine (TEA) to be a very good wax deposition inhibitor. Taiwo et al. (2012) described waxy crude oils to have undesirably high pour points and are difficult to handle where the flowing and ambient temperatures are below or less than the pour point. High wax content in crude oil is a threat to the Supported by