This study reports the efficacy of quartz particles extracted from sand for the destabilization of crude oil emulsions and efficient water removal. Demulsification performance of quartz concentrates obtained from stacked sieves with openings: 75, 125, 250 and 300 μm and quartz quantity varying from 1% to 7% were investigated using the bottle test technique at a temperature of 90 °C. The breaking mechanism of emulsion driven by quartz was analyzed by rheology, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Experimental results showed that the quartz concentrates generated from stacked sieves: 75, 125, 250, and 300 μm had optimal demulsification efficiency (DE) of 98%, 98%, 99%, and 99%, respectively. Moreover, the quartz concentration needed to attain these DEs levels ranges from 3 to 5%. In addition, the performance of quartz as a demulsifier was compared with a commercial demulsifier (ethyl cellulose). Viscosity versus time measurements demonstrated the change in emulsion's viscosity before and after quartz addition. A drastic reduction in the emulsion's viscosity was observed after quartz addition, indicating rupture and coalescence of water droplets. The FTIR and XRD analysis buttressed the functional groups and structural pattern while optical microscope and SEM analysis exhibited the morphology of quartz particles before and after the demulsification processes. A mechanism elucidating the breaking of crude oil emulsion by quartz is proposed. The results indicated that quartz particles processed from the sand will be useful as demulsifiers in the petroleum industry.

这项研究报告了从沙子中提取的石英颗粒对稳定原油乳液和有效除水的功效。使用瓶测试技术在90°C的温度下研究了从孔径为75、125、250和300μm的叠层筛中获得的石英精矿的破乳性能，石英量在1％到7％之间变化。通过流变学，傅立叶变换红外（FTIR）光谱，X射线衍射（XRD），光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜（SEM）分析了石英驱动的乳液的破坏机理。实验结果表明，由75、125、250和300μm叠层筛产生的石英精矿的最佳破乳效率（DE）分别为98％，98％，99％和99％。此外，达到这些DE水平所需的石英浓度范围为3％至5％。另外，将石英作为破乳剂的性能与市售破乳剂（乙基纤维素）进行了比较。粘度对时间的测量表明在添加石英之前和之后乳液粘度的变化。加入石英后，发现乳液的粘度急剧降低，表明水滴破裂和聚结。FTIR和XRD分析支持了官能团和结构模式，而光学显微镜和SEM分析显示了破乳过程前后石英颗粒的形态。提出了阐明石英破坏原油乳液的机理。