Asphaltene Behaviors and Models

One of the challenges for a feasible NAE process is that the final extracted bitumen product is free of water and mineral/clay solids so that it can be used as refinery feed.


This project is a systematic investigation of various asphaltene behaviors and models by combining quantitative intermolecular and surface force measurements and molecular dynamics simulations in NAE processes (e.g., nonaqueous extraction, solvent recovery and product cleaning) and in partially upgraded bitumen.

Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Intermolecular Forces and Interfacial Science

Hongbo Zeng

Award

EWR Steacie Memorial Fellowship

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Engineering Research Award

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Award

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Faculty of Engineering Career Research Award

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Fellow of The Royal Society of Canada

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Fellowship

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Great Supervisor Award

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Hatch Innovation Award

Hongbo Zeng

Award

International Award for Outstanding Young Chemical Engineer

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Killam Annual Professorship

Hongbo Zeng

Award

Senior University of Alberta Engineering Research Chair

Hongbo Zeng

Award

A Molecular Dynamics Study of the Effect of Asphaltenes on Toluene/Water Interfacial Tension: Surfactant or Solute?

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Adsorption kinetics of asphaltenes at oil/water interface: Effects of concentration and temperature

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Ling Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Adsorption of Violanthrone-79-Based Model Asphaltenes on Quartz Surfaces Studied by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Asphaltene Behaviors and Models

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Bio-inspired, facile and scalable surface functionalization approach with small molecules for multitasking oil decontamination

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Hao Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Effect of Model Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds on the Coalescence of Water-in-Oil Emulsion Droplets

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Effect of Non-ionic Surfactants on the Adsorption of Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds at Water/Oil interface: A Molecular Simulation Study

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Effect of Salinity on Water/Oil Interface with Model Asphaltene and Non-Ionic Surfactants: Insights from Molecular Simulations

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Effect of charge density of reverse emulsion breaker on demulsification performance for steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) emulsions under high temperature and high pressure

Qi Liu, Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Effect of model demulsifiers on the adsorption of model asphaltene at water/oil interface: a molecular simulation study

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Effects of Surfactants on Droplet Deformation and Breakup in Water-in-Oil Emulsions Under DC Electric Field: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Article in professional or trade journals

Electrochemical investigation of the interactions of organic and inorganic depressants on basal and edge planes of molybdenite

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Facile and scalable surface functionalization approach with small silane molecules for oil/water separation and demulsification of surfactant/asphaltenes-stabilized emulsions

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Hao Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Fouling phenomena in oil production

Doctoral Thesis/Dissertation

High-efficiency and Durable Removal of Water-in-Heavy Oil Emulsions Enabled by Delignified and Carboxylated Basswood with Zwitterionic Nanohydrogel Coatings

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Mingfei Pan

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Hydrophobic Interactions in Water and Hydrophilic Interaction in Oil of Polymers, Emulsions and Bubbles

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Hydrophobic Interactions in Water and “Hydrophilic” Interaction in Oil of Polymers, Minerals, Emulsions and Bubbles

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Interactions and Surface Wettability

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Interaction Mechanisms of Water-in-Oil and Oil-in-Water Emulsions in Oil Production

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Interactions of Emulsion Drops and Gas Bubbles in Complex Fluids: Hydrophobic Interaction in Water and Hydrophilic Interaction in Oil

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Interfacial Behavior and Interaction Mechanism of Pentol/Water Interface Stabilized with Asphaltenes

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Xiaoli Tan, Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Interfacial Science and Colloidal Interactions in Oil Production

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Intermolecular and Interfacial Interactions in Engineering Processes: Emulsions in Oil Production as An Example

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Intermolecular and Surface Forces at Solid/Oil/Water/Gas Interfaces in Petroleum Production

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie, Xinwei Cui, Ling Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Intermolecular and Surface Interactions at Solid/Oil/Water/Gas Interfaces in Oil Production

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Intermolecular and Surface Interactions in Engineering Processes

Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Model Asphaltenes between Surfaces of Varying Polarity

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Molecular Dynamics Simulation on Water/Oil Interface with Model Asphaltene Subjected to Electric Field

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Wenhui Li

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Molecular Dynamics Study on the Mechanism of Graphene Oxide to Destabilize Oil-Water Emulsion

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Molecular Simulation of Folding and Aggregation of Multi-Core Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Molecular Simulations on the Coalescence of Water-in-Oil Emulsion Droplets with Non-ionic Surfactant and Model

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Novel Core-Shell Microsphere with Superhydrophilic Polyelectrolytes for Breaking Asphaltenes Stabilized Water-In-Oil Emulsions and the Surface Interaction Mechanism

Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Lei Xie

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Novel Fe3O4 Based Superhydrophilic Core-shell Microspheres for Breaking Asphaltenes-stabilized Water-in-oil Emulsion

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Novel polymer nanoparticles with core-shell structure for breaking asphaltenes-stabilized W/O and O/W emulsions

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Probing molecular interactions between humic acid and surface-grafted polyacrylamide using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation and atomic force microscopy: implications for environmental remediation

Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Probing the Coalescence Mechanism of Water Droplet and Oil/Water Interface in Demulsification Process under DC Electric Field

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Article in professional or trade journals

Probing the Effect of Salt on Asphaltene Aggregation in Aqueous Solutions Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Probing the Effect of Salt on Asphaltene Aggregation in Aqueous Solutions Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Probing the Interaction Mechanism between Oil Droplets with Asphaltenes and Solid Surfaces Using AFM

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie, Ling Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Probing the Interactions of Emulsions, Bubbles and Fine Solids in Complex Fluids and Confined Space

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Probing the Interfacial Behaviors of Interfacially Active and Non-Active Asphaltenes and Their Impact on Emulsion Stability

Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Hao Zhang

Article in professional or trade journals

Probing the Interfacial Forces and Surface Interaction Mechanisms in Petroleum Production Processes

Hongbo Zeng, Xuwen Peng, Hao Zhang, Tao Wang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Probing the Surface Forces between Air Bubbles and Bitumen via Direct Force Measurements: Effects of Aqueous Chemistry

Qi Liu, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Lei Xie, Hao Zhang, Tao Wang

Article in professional or trade journals

Probing the Surface Forces in Bitumen Extraction using a Bubble Probe AFM

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Probing the interactions between Pickering emulsion droplets stabilized with pH-responsive nanoparticles

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Lei Xie, Hao Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Probing the interactions between Pickering emulsion droplets with pH-responsive nanoparticles

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Quantifying Hydrophobic Interaction and the Correlation to Surface Wettability

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Recent Advances in Bubble-based Technologies: Underlying Interaction Mechanisms and Applications

Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Xuwen Peng, Lei Xie, Hao Zhang, Tao Wang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Recent Advances in Hydrophobic Interactions and Surface Wettability

Hongbo Zeng

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Recent Advances in the Quantification and Modulation of Hydrophobic Interactions for Interfacial Applications

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Role of Molecular Architecture in the Modulation of Hydrophobic Interactions

Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie, Hao Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Stabilization Mechanism and Interaction Forces of Emulsions with Asphaltenes

Hongbo Zeng, Ling Zhang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Surface Interaction Mechanisms in Mineral Flotation: Fundamentals, Measurements, and Perspectives

Qi Liu, Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie, Hao Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Surface Interaction Mechanisms of Air Bubbles, Asphaltenes and Oil Drops in Aqueous Solutions with Implications for Interfacial Engineering Processes

Qi Liu, Hongbo Zeng, Xuwen Peng, Hao Zhang, Tao Wang

Article in professional or trade journals

Surface Interactions between Water-in-Oil Emulsions with Asphaltenes and Electroless Nickel–Phosphorus Coating

Jingli Luo, Hongbo Zeng, Ling Zhang, Li Xiang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Synergetic Adsorption of Polymers on Montmorillonite: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

The effect of clay type and solid wettability on bitumen extraction from Canadian oil sands

Hongbo Zeng, Han Wang

Article in professional or trade journals

Understanding Adsorption of Violanthrone-79 as a Model Asphaltene Compound on Quartz Surface Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Understanding the Complex Interfacial Behaviors and Molecular Interaction Mechanisms of Asphaltenes at the Oil/Water/Solid Interfaces

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie, Xiaoyu Sun

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Understanding the Interactions and Stability of Emulsions in the presence of Asphaltenes

Hongbo Zeng, Ling Zhang

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Understanding the Interfacial Behaviors and Molecular Interaction Mechanisms of Asphaltenes Using Experimental and Theoretical Methods

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Lei Xie, Xiaoyu Sun, Jing Liu

Conference/Symposium/Workshop Contribution

Understanding the Properties of Bitumen Froth from Oil Sands Surface Mining and Treatment of Water-in-oil Emulsions

Qi Liu, Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaohui Mao, Camila Santander, Wenshuai Yang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Unraveling Partial Coalescence between Droplet and Oil-Water Interface in Water-in-oil Emulsions Under a Direct-current Electric Field via Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun

Article in professional or trade journals

Unraveling the Hydrophobic Interaction Mechanisms of Hydrocarbon and Fluorinated Surfaces

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Wenhui Li, Wenshuai Yang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article

Unravelling the Interaction of Water-in-Oil Emulsion Droplets via Molecular Simulations and Surface Force Measurements

Tian Tang, Hongbo Zeng, Xiaoyu Sun, Hao Zhang

Peer-Reviewed Journal Article