Surfactants Enhanced Heavy Oil–Solid Separation from Carbonate Asphalt Rocks-Experiment and Molecular Dynamic Simulation

In this study, surfactants were used to enhance heavy oil–solid separation, and a detailed mechanism was explored by SARA (saturates, aromatics, resins, asphaltenes) analysis, element AFM measurement, molecular dynamic simulation. Surfactants could effectively decrease oil/solid interaction force then separation would be enhanced. The interactive in relation concentration, pH value, asphaltene content, salinity. dynamics simulation results show that the dissociation of saturated hydrocarbon, aromatic resin, (SARA) on carbonate minerals is gradually weakened for all surfactants. process surfactant stripping SARA, firstly, molecules adsorb surface molecules. After that, peels off calcite under influence thermal motion. process, will not directly adsorbed trace minerals. energy/temperature balance indicated saturates, aromatics resins remain stable when time reached 2000 ps with phenomenon liberate from totally within ps. asphaltenes 6000 ps, meanwhile, they reach energy balance/energy functional groups have interactions group, resulting different effects SARA. are consistent experiment results. effect five kinds different. accordance analysis.