Poly[N,N-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate-b-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate-b-lauryl methacrylate] (PDMA-b-PPMA-b-PLMA) triblock copolymers were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and characterized by GPC and 1H NMR spectroscopy. They exhibited high interfacial activity which could be tuned by simply adjusting the solution pH, and remarkably reduced the interfacial tension of dodecane/water as well as heavy crude oils. With a low copolymer concentration of 0.05 w/v %, the apparent viscosity of Shengli crude oil was reduced from 34000 to 350 mPa∙s after emulsification with the help of the obtained copolymers at 20 °C, and the formed emulsion exhibited long-term stability for more than 3 months.

Comb-type triblock copolymers synthesized by RAFT polymerization and their capability for heavy crude oil emulsification

249th National Meeting (2015)

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