Magnetic nanohybrid with tunable electrostatic heterogeneity for integrated flow assurance and on-demand demulsification of heavy oil emulsions.

The paradoxical requirement for both sustained flowability and rapid phase separation presents a persistent challenge in the transport and processing of heavy oil emulsions. Shear forces inherent in pipeline transport inevitably generate stable water-in-oil dispersions, yet the same emulsions must be readily resolved upon reaching downstream facilities. This work introduces a design paradigm predicated on state-adaptive interfacial regulation, embodied in a magnetic nanohybrid (MNP@PGMS). When introduced prior to shear exposure, MNP@PGMS ensures that the resulting emulsion retains manageable viscosity, exhibiting a 43.4% reduction in apparent viscosity compared to untreated systems, while destabilizing within one minute after flow cessation. This dual functionality originates from the strategic integration of an oxygen-rich polyether onto a magnetic core, creating pronounced electrostatic surface potential heterogeneity. This surface characteristic imparts a strong thermodynamic driving force for interfacial localization, enabling MNP@PGMS to rapidly occupy nascent oil-water interfaces and sterically impede the continuous lateral assembly of asphaltene networks. For pre-existing, aged interfaces, the nanohybrid actively perturbs the established mechanical barrier. Direct measurement reveals a striking reduction in droplet coalescence time from 80 s to merely 0.7 s. By establishing a mechanistic link between nanoscale surface architecture and macroscopic emulsion fate, this study delineates a cohesive framework for process-spanning emulsion control, offering a practical route toward unified flow assurance and separation in energy and environmental engineering.