Naphthenic acids recovery from petroleum using ionic silica based hybrid material as stationary phase in solid phase extraction (SPE) process

Naphthenic acids cause corrosion in the equipment used in the petroleum processing. Considering difficulties in the identification of the compounds present in the petroleum sample, it is necessary to study new methodologies to identify or remove the acid compounds from complex matrix. Solid phase extraction (SPE) with ionic phases has been used for this purpose, because it promotes greater selectivity, lower consumption of solvents and small amount of the stationary phase. The proposed study is the recovery of acid compounds using SPE method. An ionic silica based hybrid material containing the pyridinium group was developed and used as stationary phase (SiPy). Linear and monocyclic acids were used as standard mixture in the SPE for calculation of recovery. Further tests were performed with Brazilian petroleum. The SiPy stationary phase showed satisfactory results for the recovery and identification of the acidic compounds presented in the standard mixture as well as in the resin fraction from petroleum.