Emulsions have a broad spectrum of applications in the petroleum industry. According to their properties, emulsions are classified into; macroemulsions, nanoemulsions, and microemulsions. The different variables determine the formation and behavior of emulsions; the surfactant type is one of them. The calcium and magnesium ions are considered crucial brine components affecting surfactants' performance. In this work, we varied the concentration of calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+) brines to study the formation, stability, and rheological properties of emulsions using an anionic surfactant. 
We prepared macroemulsions, which exhibit high viscosity and non-Newtonian behavior, at salinities higher than 55,000 ppm. On the other hand, at salinities lower than 55,000 ppm, the emulsions exhibit low viscosity and Newtonian behavior. We observed that the emulsions prepared with Ca2+ or Mg2+ brines do not present similar behavior. 
For instance, we identified significant differences in the viscosity and interfacial tension of the emulsions prepared with one or another ion, showing that the calcium and magnesium ions should be assessed separately to understand their implications on the surfactant performance and the resulting emulsions' properties.

Estudio de Propiedades Fisicoquímicas de Emulsiones Relevantes para el Transporte de Hidrocarburos

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