Synthesis and Characterization of some Surfactants from Jatropha oil

Abstract

Five new surfactants derived from Sudanese Jatropha oil were synthesized. Three of them, namely: Surfactant-1 (Surf-1), Surfactant-2 (Surf-2) and Surfactant-3 (Surf-3) were methyl ester sulphonate of Jatropha oil from different location of Jatropha plant: South Kordofan, Ad-Damazin and Al Qadarif, respectively. Surfactant-4 (Surf-4) and Surfactant-5 (Surf-5) were ethyl ester and soap produced from South Kordofan Jatropha oil, respectively. The characterizations were studied by FTIR and GC with mass, and they approved an excellent formation of functional group of surfactants produced. The performance of each surfactant was studied by testing its emulsification quality and its thermal stability. The emulsification quality of each surfactant was tested by measuring the interfacial tension between each surfactant and crude oil and by measuring the phase separation time between water and crude oil in absence and in presence of surfactant. Surfactants (1-3) showed reduction in the measurement of interfacial tension almost similar to that of the standard surfactant used in the field (sodium methyl ester sulphonate). Surf (4 and 5) also reduced the interfacial tension but with less quality. The measurement of phase separation time for a homogenized mixture of 100 ml water and 1.0 ml of crude oil (using a homogenizer) in presence or absence of surfactant showed that, Surf (1-5) gave more time for phase separation. The results analysis showed that, these products were a real surfactants and it can be used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) application.