Synthesis and Evaluation of Copolymers as Pour-point Depressants

-Olefin maleic anhydride copolymers were prepared by reacting C₈ or C₁₄ olefin with maleic anhydride, then esterified with dodecyl or NAFOL 1822B alcohol, purified and characterized through average molecular weight, polydispersity index, and infrared spectroscopy. A waxy crude oil (pour point = 21°C and wax content = 18.9 wt%) was treated with the four synthesized additives as pour-point depressants and determined using x-ray diffractometer. It is found that the x-ray diffraction patterns of waxes with additives are remarkably different from those without additives. The NAFOL 1822B ester of 1-tetradecene maleic anhydride copolymer also show stronger interaction with the wax than NAFOL 1822B ester of 1-octene copolymer, dodecyl ester of 1-tetradecene maleic anhydride copolymer, and dodecy ester of 1-octene maleic anhydride copolymer. These effects can be attributed to the chain length of side hydrocarbon. The wax solubilization is a function of copolymer.