Yarranton, HarveyRocha Arrieta, Jair Andres2016-08-042016-08-0420162016http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3164In this thesis, several factors that influence the stability of asphaltene and bitumen stabilized water-in-oil emulsions are investigated including salt type, salt concentration, pH, interfacial film properties, surface coverage, drop size, and emulsion packing. Model water-in-oil emulsions were prepared from aqueous phases consisting of reverse osmosis water and salts (NaCl, CaCl2, Na2SO4, KCl and Na2CO3). The organic phases consisted of either asphaltenes or bitumen dissolved in solutions of heptane and toluene. Salt contents as low as 0.02 wt% (or 0.03M ionic strength) were found to significantly increase the stability of the emulsions regardless of the type of salt present in the aqueous phase. The increase in stability correlated with an increase in the mass and apparent molecular weight of asphaltenes adsorbed at the interface. A mass surface coverage of 5 mg/m² and an apparent molecular weight of 7000 g/mol appear to be the threshold required for stable emulsions.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Engineering--ChemicalEngineering--MiningEngineering--PetroleumAsphaltenesemulsion stabilityoil sandsinterfacial filmmass adsorptionmaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/27677