Biodegradable Saponins from Fenugreek Seeds as Eco-Friendly Wax Deposition Inhibitors in Crude Oil

Abstract

Wax deposition in crude oil pipelines, caused by temperatures dropping below the wax appearance temperature (WAT), leads to paraffin build-up and blockage. While chemical inhibitors can prevent this, they are costly and harmful to the environment. This study explored biodegradable saponins extracted from fenugreek seeds as a sustainable alternative to inhibit wax deposition, improve the rheological behavior, and compare it with commercial saponins. Saponin was extracted using chemical methods, producing white crystals in samples A, B, and C at different rotational speeds (150, 200, and 250 rpm), while commercial saponin was named Sample D. Characterization using FTIR, GC-MS, and TGA confirmed the presence of saponin, with Sample C showing the closest match to the commercial version. Cold finger analysis evaluated the wax deposition reduction, with Sample C achieving the highest paraffin inhibition efficiency (PIE) of 67.13% at 20°C and 350 rpm, 51.33% at 1 h, and 90.76% at 800 ppm. Sample C emerged as the most effective inhibitor, offering a promising and biodegradable alternative to conventional wax inhibitors used in pipelines. Future research should focus on scaling up the extraction process and testing it under various pipeline conditions.