1
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Jagadisan A, Banerjee S. Asphaltene Adsorption on Solid Surfaces Investigated Using Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation under Flow Conditions. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:15982-15995. [PMID: 38617650 PMCID: PMC11007691 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Asphaltenes can cause operational challenges in petroleum production facilities and adversely affect production by adsorption on mineral surfaces and alteration of the oil wettability of reservoirs. Therefore, understanding asphaltene adsorption mechanisms and their effects is crucial to improving the efficiency of oil production and reducing costs. In this study, we focus on understanding the impact of asphaltene concentration and the depositing environment of asphaltene adsorption on solid surfaces using the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) technique. The initial and long-term kinetics of adsorption at different concentrations were examined on three different solid surfaces including silicon dioxide to represent quartz mineral, stainless steel, and gold. The frequency-dissipation data showed evidence of monolayer adsorption initially, followed by multilayer formation. At short times, the adsorbed mass increased linearly with time, suggesting that the process was kinetically controlled rather than diffusion-controlled. The results were reproducible and did not depend on convection velocity but did depend on the surface material. At later stages, the monolayer development appeared to follow the random sequential adsorption (RSA) theory. Once multilayer adsorption commenced, the rates agreed well with the two-layer model of Zhu and Gu, 1990. The impact of asphaltene adsorption on the wettability of the surface was examined using contact angle studies, which showed decreasing water wettability with an increase in the adsorbed mass. The contact angle of water after 12 h of adsorption leveled off at around 100° on all three surfaces. Contact angle measurements were also used to evaluate if brine salinity causes the wettability alteration of surfaces with the adsorbed asphaltene. The results indicate that at 3% NaCl solution, the contact angle decreased only slightly by less than 2°.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Jagadisan
- Energy Institute and Department
of Chemical Engineering, City College of
New York, New York, New York 10031, United States
| | - Sanjoy Banerjee
- Energy Institute and Department
of Chemical Engineering, City College of
New York, New York, New York 10031, United States
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2
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Taheri-Shakib J, Esfandiarian A, Rajabi-Kochi M, Kazemzadeh E, Afkhami Karaei M. Evaluation of rock and fluid intermolecular interaction between asphaltene and sand minerals using electrochemical, analytical spectroscopy and microscopy techniques. Sci Rep 2024; 14:670. [PMID: 38182772 PMCID: PMC10770408 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51196-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-time contact of heavy crude oil with rock leads to an adsorption phenomenon, which causes the rock surface to become oil-wet and appears as a barrier to the fluid flow in the porous media. However precise understanding of how asphaltene fractions influence sand wettability is lacking. The wetness of neat and asphaltene-aged sandstone was calculated using two relative permeability and contact angle methods. Then the molecular interaction between asphaltene and sand minerals was systematically analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the zeta potential was representative of electrostatic properties and surface charge alteration of the sand after these phenomena. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis also showed elemental mapping and dispersion of asphaltene particles on the rock surface. According to contact angle and EDX analyses of asphaltene samples, the contact angle rises from 115° to 141° by an increase in carbon adsorption on the sand surface from 8.23 to 41.56%. Spectroscopy results demonstrated that hydrogen-bonding, π-bonding, and sulfur-containing compounds such as sulfoxide improve asphaltene adsorption onto the sand surface. The higher the aromaticity index and hydrogen potential index of asphaltene, the greater the ability of asphaltene to change wettability. Adsorption of surface active components would make the surface charge of the sand more negative. The presence of nitrogen/sulfur-containing functional groups on the sand surface changed the electrostatic properties, as a sand surface coated with asphaltene would reduce the percentage of metal cations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaber Taheri-Shakib
- Department of Research and Technology of the Rock and Fluid Reservoirs, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Esfandiarian
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran.
| | - Mahyar Rajabi-Kochi
- Department of Research and Technology of the Rock and Fluid Reservoirs, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ezzatallah Kazemzadeh
- Faculty of Research and Development in Upstream Petroleum Industry, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Afkhami Karaei
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, Firoozabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Firoozabad, Iran
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3
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Soleimani Y, Mohammadi MR, Schaffie M, Zabihi R, Ranjbar M. An experimental study of the effects of bacteria on asphaltene adsorption and wettability alteration of dolomite and quartz. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21497. [PMID: 38057408 PMCID: PMC10700381 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48680-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The adsorption of asphaltene on the rock surface and the changes in its wettability are very relevant issues in flow assurance and oil recovery studies, and for carbonate reservoirs, they are even more important. During microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) processes, wettability alteration is considered a crucial mechanism leading to improved oil recovery. Therefore, it is essential to understand the mechanisms of surface wettability changes by bacteria and biosurfactants and find new and reliable methods to prevent asphaltene adsorption. Hence, the main aim of this research was to investigate the effect of a mixture of thiobacillus thiooxidans and thiobacillus ferooxidans microorganisms with an optimum effective temperature of around 30 °C (referred to as mesophilic bacteria), as well as a mixture of two moderate thermophiles Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans for operating temperatures around 50 °C (referred to as moderately thermophilic bacteria) on the adsorption of asphaltene samples isolated from two different crude oils onto main reservoir minerals (i.e., quartz and dolomite). The results indicated that after two weeks of mineral aging in moderate thermophilic bacteria, the adsorption of asphaltene on both minerals increased between 180 and 290%. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis for quartz and dolomite samples demonstrated that after aging in bacterial solution, bonds related to the adsorption of bacterial cells and biosurfactant production appear, which are the main factors of change in wettability. Alteration in wettability towards hydrophilicity expands hydrogen bonds on the surface, thus improving asphaltene adsorption due to polar interaction. Asphaltene 1 changed the contact angle of dolomite from 53.85° to 90.51° and asphaltene 2 from 53.85° to 100.41°. However, both strains of bacteria caused a strong water-wetting effect on the dolomite rock samples. The influence of moderate thermophilic bacteria on surface wettability is more significant than that of mesophilic bacteria, which may be caused by the high protein content of these bacteria, which expands hydrogen bonding with the surface. Adsorption of asphaltenes on dolomite rocks previously aged with bacteria showed that the wetted rock samples retained their water-wet state. This study highlights the dual impact of the used microorganisms. On one hand, they significantly reduce contact angles and shift wettability towards a strongly water-wet condition, a crucial positive factor for MEOR. On the other hand, these microorganisms can elevate the adsorption of asphaltenes on reservoir rock minerals, posing a potential challenge in the form of formation damage, particularly in low-permeability reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Younes Soleimani
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
| | | | - Mahin Schaffie
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Reza Zabihi
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ranjbar
- Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Mining Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
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4
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Ansari S, Mohammadi MR, Bahmaninia H, Hemmati-Sarapardeh A, Schaffie M, Norouzi-Apourvari S, Ranjbar M. Experimental measurement and modeling of asphaltene adsorption onto iron oxide and lime nanoparticles in the presence and absence of water. Sci Rep 2023; 13:122. [PMID: 36599908 PMCID: PMC9813354 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27335-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Asphaltene precipitation and its adsorption on different surfaces are challenging topics in the upstream and downstream of the oil industries and the environment. In this research, the phenomenon of asphaltenes adsorption in the presence and absence of water on the surface of magnetite, hematite, calcite, and dolomite nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated. Five asphaltenes of different origins, four NPs as adsorbents and Persian Gulf water were used for three-phase (asphaltene/toluene solution + NPs + water) experiments. Characterization of asphaltenes and NPs was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), elemental analysis, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Adsorption experiments were performed in two- (asphaltene/toluene solution + NPs) and three-phase systems. The results showed that the most effective parameters for asphaltene adsorption onto these NPs are the asphaltene composition, namely nitrogen content, and the aromaticity of asphaltenes. The significant effects of these parameters were also confirmed by the relevancy factor function as a sensitivity analysis. In the competition of asphaltene adsorption capacity by NPs, iron oxide NPs had the highest adsorption (Magnetite NPs > Hematite NPs > Calcite NPs > Dolomite NPs). From the results of the experiments in the presence of water phase, it could be pointed out that the asphaltenes adsorption onto the NPs was accompanied by a decrease compared to the experiments in the absence of water. The modeling also showed that physical adsorption has a significant contribution to the asphaltenes adsorption on the surface of iron oxides and lime NPs. The results of this research can assist in a better understanding of the asphaltene adsorption phenomenon and the role of iron oxide and lime NPs in solving this problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajjad Ansari
- grid.412503.10000 0000 9826 9569Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Mohammadi
- grid.412503.10000 0000 9826 9569Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Hamid Bahmaninia
- grid.412503.10000 0000 9826 9569Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Abdolhossein Hemmati-Sarapardeh
- grid.412503.10000 0000 9826 9569Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran ,grid.411519.90000 0004 0644 5174State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing, 102249 China
| | - Mahin Schaffie
- grid.412503.10000 0000 9826 9569Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Saeid Norouzi-Apourvari
- grid.412503.10000 0000 9826 9569Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ranjbar
- grid.412503.10000 0000 9826 9569Department of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran ,grid.412503.10000 0000 9826 9569Department of Mining Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
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5
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Liu W, Fu H, Bao M, Luo C, Han X, Zhang D, Liu H, Li Y, Lu J. Emulsions stabilized by asphaltene-polyacrylamide-soil three-phase components: Stabilization mechanism and concentration effects. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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6
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Probing the state of water in oil-based drilling fluids. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.129770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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7
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Mohammadi MR, Ansari S, Bahmaninia H, Ostadhassan M, Norouzi-Apourvari S, Hemmati-Sarapardeh A, Schaffie M, Ranjbar M. Experimental Measurement and Equilibrium Modeling of Adsorption of Asphaltenes from Various Origins onto the Magnetite Surface under Static and Dynamic Conditions. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:24256-24268. [PMID: 34568703 PMCID: PMC8459417 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c04224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wettability alterations, permeability reduction of reservoir rocks, and oil production decline may occur as a consequence of asphaltene adsorption and deposition on the surfaces of oil reservoir rocks. Magnetite and other iron minerals are abundant in the rock composition of sandstone reservoirs and cause problems by precipitation and adsorption of polar components of crude oil. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the adsorption of six asphaltene samples of various origins onto the magnetite surface. Characterization of magnetite was performed by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Also, FTIR, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and elemental analysis were performed to characterize asphaltenes. Static and dynamic adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of the water phase, adsorbent size, flow rate, and asphaltene compositions on asphaltene uptake by the magnetite. The results showed that an increase in the nitrogen content and aromatic nature of asphaltenes increased their adsorption on magnetite. The addition of water to the adsorption tests significantly reduced the adsorption amount of asphaltenes on the magnetite. A considerable decrease in asphaltene adsorption was observed with an increase in the flow rate in dynamic tests. This shows that higher flow rates reduce the interaction between adsorbed asphaltenes and asphaltene aggregates in the solution, which reduces the uptake of more asphaltenes. Moreover, adsorbed asphaltene components with a weaker bond are detached from the magnetite surface, which can be attributed to the physisorption of asphaltenes. Eventually, four well-known adsorption isotherm models, namely, Langmuir, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Temkin, and Freundlich were utilized to find the mechanisms of asphaltene adsorption onto the magnetite surface. The Freundlich model seems to provide better estimates for the adsorption of asphaltenes on the magnetite surface. The findings of this study render insights into the better management of oil production in formations with iron-containing rocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad-Reza Mohammadi
- Department
of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar
University of Kerman, Kerman 76188-68366, Iran
| | - Sajjad Ansari
- Department
of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar
University of Kerman, Kerman 76188-68366, Iran
| | - Hamid Bahmaninia
- Department
of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar
University of Kerman, Kerman 76188-68366, Iran
| | - Mehdi Ostadhassan
- State
Key Laboratory of Continental Shale Hydrocarbon Accumulation and Efficient
Development, Ministry of Education, Northeast
Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, China
| | - Saeid Norouzi-Apourvari
- Department
of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar
University of Kerman, Kerman 76188-68366, Iran
| | - Abdolhossein Hemmati-Sarapardeh
- Department
of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar
University of Kerman, Kerman 76188-68366, Iran
- College
of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
| | - Mahin Schaffie
- Department
of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar
University of Kerman, Kerman 76188-68366, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ranjbar
- Department
of Petroleum Engineering, Shahid Bahonar
University of Kerman, Kerman 76188-68366, Iran
- Department
of Mining Engineering, Shahid Bahonar University
of Kerman, Kerman 7618868366, Iran
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8
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Castillo J, Vargas V, Gonzalez G, Ruiz W, Bouyssiere B. Evidence of selective asphaltene subfraction adsorption on SiO 2 nanoparticles studied by UV-vis absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. J DISPER SCI TECHNOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/01932691.2020.1845956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy Castillo
- Facultad de Ciencias, Escuela de Química, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Vicmary Vargas
- Facultad de Ciencias, Escuela de Química, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, UMR5254, Pau, France
| | - Genesis Gonzalez
- Facultad de Ciencias, Escuela de Química, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, UMR5254, Pau, France
| | - Wladimir Ruiz
- Facultad de Ciencias, Escuela de Química, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, UMR5254, Pau, France
| | - Brice Bouyssiere
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, UMR5254, Pau, France
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9
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Lan T, Liu J, Zeng H, Tang T. Temperature-Induced Transition from Indirect to Direct Adsorption of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Quartz: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study. Ind Eng Chem Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c02412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tu Lan
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Physics and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, P. R. China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Hongbo Zeng
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Tian Tang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
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10
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Probing the 3D molecular and mineralogical heterogeneity in oil reservoir rocks at the pore scale. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8263. [PMID: 31164712 PMCID: PMC6547720 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44763-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Innovative solutions have been designed to meet the global demand for energy and environmental sustainability, such as enhanced hydrocarbon recovery and geo-sequestration of CO2. These processes involve the movement of immiscible fluids through permeable rocks, which is affected by the interfacial properties of rocks at the pore scale. Overcoming major challenges in these processes relies on a deeper understanding about the fundamental factors that control the rock wettability. In particular, the efficiency of oil recovery strategies depends largely on the 3D wetting pattern of reservoir rocks, which is in turn affected by the adsorption and deposition of 'contaminant' molecules on the pores' surface. Here, we combined high-resolution neutron tomography (NT) and synchrotron X-ray tomography (XRT) to probe the previously unobserved 3D distribution of molecular and mineralogical heterogeneity of oil reservoir rocks at the pore scale. Retrieving the distribution of neutron attenuation coefficients by Monte Carlo simulations, 3D molecular chemical mappings with micrometer dimensions could be provided. This approach allows us to identify co-localization of mineral phases with chemically distinct hydrogen-containing molecules, providing a solid foundation for the understanding of the interfacial phenomena involved in multiphase fluid flow in permeable media.
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11
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Hu X, Yutkin MP, Hassan S, Wu J, Prausnitz JM, Radke CJ. Asphaltene Adsorption from Toluene onto Silica through Thin Water Layers. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:428-434. [PMID: 30540194 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b03835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Asphaltenes in crude oil play a pivotal role in reservoir oil production because they control rock-surface wettability. Upon crude oil invasion into a brine-filled reservoir trap, rock adherence of sticky asphaltene agglomerates formed at the crude oil/brine interface can change the initially water-wet porous medium into mixed-oil wetting. If thick, stable water films coat the rock surfaces, however, asphaltenic-oil adhesion is thought to be prevented. We investigate whether water films influence the uptake of asphaltenes in crude oil onto silica surfaces. Water films of known thickness are formed at a silica surface in a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation and contacted by toluene-solubilized asphaltene. We confirm that thick water films prevent asphaltene molecular contact with the silica surface blocking asphaltene adhesion. The thicker the water film, the smaller is the amount of asphaltene deposited. Film thickness necessary for complete blockage onto silica is greater than about 500 nm, well beyond the range of molecular-chain contact. Water films of thickness less than 500 nm, sandwiched between toluene and solid silica, apparently rupture into thick water pockets and interposed molecularly thin water layers that permit asphaltene adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhen Hu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , University of California Berkeley , Berkeley 94720 , United States
- Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering of Ministry of Education , Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an 710049 , China
| | - Maxim P Yutkin
- Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center (ANPERC), Physical Sciences and Engineering Division , King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh Hassan
- Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center (ANPERC), Physical Sciences and Engineering Division , King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jiangtao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering of Ministry of Education , Xi'an Jiaotong University , Xi'an 710049 , China
| | - J M Prausnitz
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , University of California Berkeley , Berkeley 94720 , United States
| | - C J Radke
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , University of California Berkeley , Berkeley 94720 , United States
- Ali I. Al-Naimi Petroleum Engineering Research Center (ANPERC), Physical Sciences and Engineering Division , King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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12
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Mohammed S, Gadikota G. The role of calcite and silica interfaces on the aggregation and transport of asphaltenes in confinement. J Mol Liq 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2018.10.163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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13
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Raj G, Lesimple A, Whelan J, Naumov P. Direct Observation of Asphaltene Nanoparticles on Model Mineral Substrates. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2017; 33:6248-6257. [PMID: 28553982 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b00866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The propensity for adherence to solid surfaces of asphaltenes, a complex solubility class of heteropolycyclic aromatic compounds from the heavy fraction of crude oil, has long been the root cause of scale deposition and remains an intractable problem in the petroleum industry. Although the adhesion is essential to understanding the process of asphaltene deposition, the relationship between the conformation of asphaltene molecules on mineral substrates and its impact on adhesion and mechanical properties of the deposits is not completely understood. To rationalize the primary processes in the process of organic scale deposition, here we use atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize the morphology of petroleum asphaltenes deposited on model mineral substrates. High imaging contrast was achieved by the differential adhesion of the tip between asphaltenes and the mineral substrate. While asphaltenes form smooth continuous films on all substrates at higher concentrations, they deposit as individual nanoparticles at lower concentrations. The size, shape, and spatial distribution of the nanoaggregates are strongly affected by the nature of the substrate; while uniformly distributed spherical particles are formed on highly polar and hydrophilic substrates (mica), irregular islands and thicker patches are observed with substrates of lower polarity (silica and calcite). Asphaltene nanoparticles flatten when adsorbed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite due to π-π interactions with the polycyclic core. Force-distance profiles provide direct evidence of the conformational changes of asphaltene molecules on hydrophilic/hydrophobic substrates that result in dramatic changes in adhesion and mechanical properties of asphaltene deposits. Such an understanding of the nature of adhesion and mechanical properties tuned by surface properties, on the level of asphaltene nanoaggregates, would contribute to the design of efficient asphaltene inhibitors for preventing asphaltene fouling on targeted surfaces. Unlike flat surfaces, the AFM phase contrast images of defected calcite surfaces show that asphaltenes form continuous deposits to fill the recesses, and this process could trigger the onset for asphaltene deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gijo Raj
- New York University Abu Dhabi , P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Alain Lesimple
- New York University Abu Dhabi , P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jamie Whelan
- New York University Abu Dhabi , P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Panče Naumov
- New York University Abu Dhabi , P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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