IDIAKE DESTINY OKHIDE

The global petroleum industry faces continuous and costly challenges in resolving stable water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, a process that traditionally relies on expensive, non-biodegradable synthetic demulsifiers. This study investigated the development and optimization of a sustainable, bio-based demulsifier derived from a synergistic blend of extracts from Citrus sinensis (orange) and Musa spp. (banana) peels, aiming to provide an environmentally responsible alternative. The demulsifier was prepared via solvent extraction of the agricultural waste. Characterization showed the blended formulation possessed an optimal pH of 5.8 and a density of 998.0 kg/m³. Chemical analysis using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of non-ionic, amphiphilic functional groups (O-H, C-H, and C-O), indicative of a surfactant-type demulsifier system4. The demulsification performance was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), analyzing the interactive effects of demulsifier dosage, temperature, and demulsification time to maximize the final water cut percentage. The resulting quadratic model demonstrated a strong correlation and predictive power, indicated by an excellent Coefficient of Determination (R²) of 0.9768. The synergistic blend achieved a peak demulsification efficiency under the tested conditions, with the maximum recorded water cut being 20 v/v%. This efficiency is attributed to the complementary action of the constituent compounds: the lipophilic D-limonene (C. sinensis) acts as a solvent to weaken the interfacial film, while the hydrophilic saponins and phenolic compounds (Musa spp.) competitively adsorb at the interface to promote rapid droplet coalescence.