The effect of amino [60] fullerene derivatives on pour point and rheological properties of waxy crude oil

In this work, two [60] fullerene derivatives were employed as flow improvers for waxy crude oil to reduce problems caused by the crystallization of paraffin during the production and/or transportation of the crude oil. These amine-based derivatives of [60] fullerene have been applied as wax inhibitor for improvement of rheological performance as well as pour point depressant in a waxy crude oil. Moreover, the influence of these [60] fullerene derivatives on the viscosity and pour point was also investigated in an Iranian waxy crude oil sample. The [60] fullerene derivatives were simply prepared by stirring a solution of [60] fullerene and two lipophilic amines. The results similarly showed that addition of small quantities of these amino [60] fullerene derivatives improved viscosity and pour point of the crude oil. These observations indicate that the performance of [60] fullerene derivatives remarkably depends on the type of derivatives. Having lower molecular weight, the hexadecylamine derivative of [60] fullerene was found as the best additive in waxy crude oil in terms of showing prominent efficiency than the octadecylamine derivative. Correspondingly, the former derivative showed significant improvement in the viscosity of crude oil than the octadecylamine derivative of [60] fullerene. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.