Question:
A measure of the potential of crude oil to form surfactants for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) is given by the Total Acid Number (TAN). TAN is the mass of \(\underline{\hspace{2cm}}\) (in milligrams) that is required to neutralize one gram of crude oil.
A measure of the potential of crude oil to form surfactants for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) is given by the Total Acid Number (TAN). TAN is the mass of \(\underline{\hspace{2cm}}\) (in milligrams) that is required to neutralize one gram of crude oil.
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TAN is used to measure the acid content of crude oil. NaOH is the most commonly used base for neutralizing these acids during Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR).
Updated On: Jan 9, 2026
- Ca(OH)\(_2\)
- NaCl
- KOH
- NaOH
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
The Total Acid Number (TAN) is a key parameter in assessing the acid content of crude oil. It is defined as the amount of a standard base (in milligrams) required to neutralize the acidic components, mainly organic acids (such as carboxylic acids), present in one gram of crude oil. This is crucial in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) because crude oils with higher TAN values may require more aggressive methods for surfactant formation.
In EOR, surfactants are formed by the reaction between basic chemicals and acidic compounds in crude oil. The purpose of measuring TAN is to estimate how much of a base is needed to neutralize the oil's acidity and facilitate the formation of surfactants that can help improve oil recovery efficiency.
Among the options, the commonly used base to neutralize acids in crude oil is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). It is widely used in refining processes due to its strong alkaline nature, which effectively neutralizes acids and helps in surfactant formation. Other bases like Ca(OH)\(_2\) (calcium hydroxide) and KOH (potassium hydroxide) are also used but are less common than NaOH in this context. NaCl (sodium chloride), however, is not a base and does not neutralize acids, making it an incorrect choice.
Thus, option (D) NaOH is the correct answer.
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