Regarding the effect that different twin-tailed surfactant have on a solid stabilized petroleum emulsion

An industrial petroleum emulsion stabilized by colloidal silica particles was treated with four different twin-tailed surfactants: sodium bis-2-(ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT), didodecylammonium bromide (DDAB), calcium oleate (Ca(OL)₂), and dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB). Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, optical microscopy, centrifuge test, and conductivity measurement were employed to determine the effect of the amphiphile molecules on the crude oil emulsion. AOT and DDAB produce emulsion breakdown, while Ca(OL)₂ does not alter the emulsion stability and DODAB produces an extra stabilization of it. The AOT adsorption at the oil–water droplet interface is a spontaneous process (ΔH^ads < 0), which promoted the emulsion breakdown through an inter-droplet interaction mechanism. DDAB needs extra energy (via centrifugation) to destabilize the emulsion. Ca(OL)₂ dissolves in oil phase and remains there without altering the emulsion strength, while DODAB increases the emulsion stability.