DEVELOPMENT OF A LOCAL DEMULSIFIER FROM COCONUT WATER AND ASH FOR WATER-IN-OIL EMULSION

This study presents the development of a natural demulsifier produced from coconut water and wood ash for separating water-in-oil emulsions in crude oil. The research aims to provide an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to conventional chemical demulsifiers, which are often costly and environmentally harmful. The natural demulsifier was prepared by mixing 1 L of coconut water with 750 g of wood ash, filtered, and applied in varying dosages (0.2–1.2 mL) to 100 mL crude oil emulsion samples. Bottle tests were conducted at 60°C for 60 minutes, and results were compared with a commercial demulsifier (Separol). The locally formulated demulsifier achieved optimal separation at 0.2 mL and 0.8 mL dosages, yielding up to 30 mL of water separated, while the commercial demulsifier recorded slightly higher efficiency. The findings demonstrate that the coconut water and wood ash-based demulsifier has potential as a sustainable and low-cost substitute for chemical demulsifiers in the petroleum industry.