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Salager JL, Marquez R, Rondón M, Bullón J, Graciaa A. Review on Some Confusion Produced by the Bicontinuous Microemulsion Terminology and Its Domains Microcurvature: A Simple Spatiotemporal Model at Optimum Formulation of Surfactant-Oil-Water Systems. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:9040-9057. [PMID: 36936277 PMCID: PMC10018710 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Fundamental studies have improved understanding of molecular-level properties and behavior in surfactant-oil-water (SOW) systems at equilibrium and under nonequilibrium conditions. However, confusion persists regarding the terms "microemulsion" and "curvature" in these systems. Microemulsion refers to a single-phase system that does not contain distinct oil or water droplets but at least four different structures with globular domains of nanometer size and sometimes arbitrary shape. The significance of "curvature" in such systems is unclear. At high surfactant concentrations (typically 30 wt % or more), a single phase zone has been identified in which complex molecular arrangements may result in light scattering. As surfactant concentration decreases, the single phase is referred to as a bicontinuous microemulsion, known as the middle phase in a Winsor III triphasic system. Its structure has been described as involving simple or multiple surfactant films surrounding more or less elongated excess oil and water phase globules. In cases where the system separates into two or three phases, known as Winsor I or II systems, one of the phases, containing most of the surfactant, is also confusedly referred to as the microemulsion. In this surfactant-rich phase, the only curved objects are micellar size structures that are soluble in the system and have no real interface but rather exchange surfactant molecules with the external liquid phase at an ultrafast pace. The use of the term "curvature" in the context of these complex microemulsion systems is confusing, particularly when applied to merged nanometer-size globular or percolating domains. In this work, we discuss the terms "microemulsion" and "curvature", and the most simple four-dimensional spatiotemporal model is proposed concerning SOW equilibrated systems near the optimum formulation. This model explains the motion of surfactant molecules due to Brownian movement, which is a quick and arbitrary thermal fluctuation, and limited to a short distance. The resulting observation and behavior will be an average in time and in space, leading to a permanent change in the local microcurvature of the aggregate, thus changing the average from micelle-like to inverse micelle-like order over an extremely short time. The term "microcurvature" is used to explain the small variations of globule size and indicates a close-to-zero mean curvature of the surfactant-containing film surface shape.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ronald Marquez
- Laboratorio
FIRP, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Miguel Rondón
- Universidad
Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga 680002, Colombia
- ICP
Ecopetrol, Piedecuesta 681011, Colombia
| | - Johnny Bullón
- Laboratorio
FIRP, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Alain Graciaa
- Université
de Pau et Pays de l’Adour, UMR 5150 TOTAL-CNRS-UPPA, BP 1155, Pau 64013 Cedex, France
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2
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Zhang Y, Placek TL, Jahan R, Alexandridis P, Tsianou M. Rhamnolipid Micellization and Adsorption Properties. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911090. [PMID: 36232408 PMCID: PMC9570487 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Biosurfactants are naturally occurring amphiphiles that are being actively pursued as alternatives to synthetic surfactants in cleaning, personal care, and cosmetic products. On the basis of their ability to mobilize and disperse hydrocarbons, biosurfactants are also involved in the bioremediation of oil spills. Rhamnolipids are low molecular weight glycolipid biosurfactants that consist of a mono- or di-rhamnose head group and a hydrocarbon fatty acid chain. We examine here the micellization of purified mono-rhamnolipids and di-rhamnolipids in aqueous solutions and their adsorption on model solid surfaces. Rhamnolipid micellization in water is endothermic; the CMC (critical micellization concentration) of di-rhamnolipid is lower than that of mono-rhamnolipid, and both CMCs decrease upon NaCl addition. Rhamnolipid adsorption on gold surface is mostly reversible and the adsorbed layer is rigid. A better understanding of biosurfactant self-assembly and adsorption properties is important for their utilization in consumer products and environmental applications.
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3
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Ma J, Yao M, Yang Y, Zhang X. Comprehensive review on stability and demulsification of unconventional heavy oil-water emulsions. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.118510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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4
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Douglas L, Rivera-Gonzalez N, Cool N, Bajpayee A, Udayakantha M, Liu GW, Anita, Banerjee S. A Materials Science Perspective of Midstream Challenges in the Utilization of Heavy Crude Oil. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:1547-1574. [PMID: 35071852 PMCID: PMC8772305 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c06399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
An increasing global population and a sharply upward trajectory of per capita energy consumption continue to drive the demand for fossil fuels, which remain integral to energy grids and the global transportation infrastructure. The oil and gas industry is increasingly reliant on unconventional deposits such as heavy crude oil and bitumen for reasons of accessibility, scale, and geopolitics. Unconventional deposits such as the Canadian Oil Sands in Northern Alberta contain more than one-third of the world's viscous oil reserves and are vital linchpins to meet the energy needs of rapidly industrializing populations. Heavy oil is typically recovered from subsurface deposits using thermal recovery approaches such as steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). In this perspective article, we discuss several aspects of materials science challenges in the utilization of heavy crude oil with an emphasis on the needs of the Canadian Oil Sands. In particular, we discuss surface modification and materials' design approaches essential to operations under extreme environments of high temperatures and pressures and the presence of corrosive species. The demanding conditions for materials and surfaces are directly traceable to the high viscosity, low surface tension, and substantial sulfur content of heavy crude oil, which necessitates extensive energy-intensive thermal processes, warrants dilution/emulsification to ease the flow of rheologically challenging fluids, and engenders the need to protect corrodible components. Geopolitical reasons have further led to a considerable geographic separation between extraction sites and advanced refineries capable of processing heavy oils to a diverse slate of products, thus necessitating a massive midstream infrastructure for transportation of these rheologically challenging fluids. Innovations in fluid handling, bitumen processing, and midstream transportation are critical to the economic viability of heavy oil. Here, we discuss foundational principles, recent technological advancements, and unmet needs emphasizing candidate solutions for thermal insulation, membrane-assisted separations, corrosion protection, and midstream bitumen transportation. This perspective seeks to highlight illustrative materials' technology developments spanning the range from nanocomposite coatings and cement sheaths for thermal insulation to the utilization of orthogonal wettability to engender separation of water-oil emulsions stabilized by endogenous surfactants extracted during SAGD, size-exclusion membranes for fractionation of bitumen, omniphobic coatings for drag reduction in pipelines and to ease oil handling in containers, solid prills obtained from partial bitumen solidification to enable solid-state transport with reduced risk of damage from spills, and nanocomposite coatings incorporating multiple modes of corrosion inhibition. Future outlooks for onsite partial upgradation are also described, which could potentially bypass the use of refineries for some fractions, enable access to a broader cross-section of refineries, and enable a new distributed chemical manufacturing paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lacey
D. Douglas
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77842-3012, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3003, United States
| | - Natalia Rivera-Gonzalez
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77842-3012, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3003, United States
| | - Nicholas Cool
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77842-3012, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3003, United States
| | - Aayushi Bajpayee
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77842-3012, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3003, United States
| | - Malsha Udayakantha
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77842-3012, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3003, United States
| | - Guan-Wen Liu
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77842-3012, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3003, United States
| | - Anita
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77842-3012, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3003, United States
| | - Sarbajit Banerjee
- Department
of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77842-3012, United States
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3003, United States
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Liu J, Zhang Y, Peng K, Zhao X, Xiong Y, Huang X. A review of the interfacial stability mechanism of aging oily sludge: Heavy components, inorganic particles, and their synergism. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 415:125624. [PMID: 33740725 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Oily sludge is widely produced in the processes of petroleum exploitation, storage, transportation, and refining, and becomes more stable during aging. The interfacial stability of aging oily sludge hinders the recovery and disposal of oil resources. This review summarizes the interfacial film stability of aging oily sludge, which occurs through the formation of viscoelastic and rigid bilayer interfacial films between heavy components (asphaltenes and resins) and inorganic particles. The bilayer interfacial films enhance interfacial film strength and hinder the aggregation of droplets, contributing to the formation of a stable and high-viscosity oil-water-solid three-phase mixture. Recent demulsification technologies for reducing the stability of interfacial films have been classified as follows: removing heavy components, changing asphaltene aggregate structure, and reducing inorganic particle content. More efficient demulsification technologies are expected to be developed by deeply analyzing the microstructure and interfacial properties of asphaltenes and resins, as well as comprehensively studying the complex interactions among various components. This review constructs a bridge between the stability mechanism and the corresponding destabilization methods, which would promote future studies in aging oily sludge treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yixuan Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Kaiming Peng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xia Zhao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yuan Xiong
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiangfeng Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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6
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Water versus Asphaltenes; Liquid-Liquid and Solid-Liquid Molecular Interactions Unravel the Mechanisms behind an Improved Oil Recovery Methodology. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11369. [PMID: 31388044 PMCID: PMC6684611 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47782-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding of possible molecular interactions at liquid-liquid and solid-liquid interfaces can shed lights onto the nature's design and authorise fine manipulation aptitude in biological, manufacturing, microfluidic and oil recovery applications. Of particular interest is the capability to control the aggregation of organic and biological macromolecules, which typically poses significant challenges for oil industry and human life, respectively. Following asphaltene aggregation phenomenon through π-stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions, asphaltene aggregates can form a thin layer at the crude oil-brine interface through noncovalent interactions such as -O-H···O hydrogen bonds and/or alter the wettability state of the solid surface from initially water-wet into mixed-oil wetting. Here, we probe the impact of water with variety of salinities and ion types on formation of water in oil micro-emulsions, asphaltene deposition, and induced water wettability transition at micro scale. For the first time we investigate the influence of water in oil micro-emulsions on asphaltene aggregation and deposition phenomena at elevated pressure and temperature conditions. We also monitor the micro-wettability alterations of gold surface of the QCM owing to ion valency/concentration changes using state of the art ESEM imaging facility. Our results depict that owing to the substitution of divalent cations with monovalent ones, asphaltene deposition is repelled and the solid surface becomes more hydrophilic, proposing a generalizable strategy to control wettability and an elucidation for the profitability of so-called low salinity water flooding, an enhanced oil recovery methodology. For the biological applications, this study provides insights into the potential roles of ions and hydrogen bonds in the protein deposition in tissues and self-assembly interactions and efficiency of drugs against protein aggregation drivers.
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7
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Yang H, Duan H, Wu X, Wang M, Chen T, Liu F, Huang S, Zhang W, Chen G, Yu D, Wang J. Self-Assembly Behavior of Ultrahighly Charged Amphiphilic Polyelectrolyte on Solid Surfaces. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2016; 32:11485-11491. [PMID: 27755878 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b03144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The adsorption process of a geminized amphiphilic polyelectrolyte, comprising double elementary charges and double hydrophobic tails in each repeat unit (denoted as PAGC8), was investigated and characterized by means of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), ellipsometry, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). By comparison, the self-assembly behaviors of a traditional polyelectrolyte without hydrophobic chains (denoted as PASC1) and an amphiphilic polyelectrolyte with a single hydrophilic headgroup and hydrophobic tail in each repeat unit (denoted as PASC8) at the solid/liquid interface were also investigated in parallel. A two-regime buildup was found in both amphiphilic systems of PASC8 and PAGC8, where the first regime was dependent on electrostatic interactions between polyelectrolytes and oppositely charged substrates, and the rearrangements of the preadsorbed chains and their aggregation behaviors on surface dominated the second regime. Furthermore, it was found that the adsorbed amount and conformation changed as a function of the charge density and bulk concentrations of the polyelectrolytes. The comparison of the adsorbed mass obtained from QCM-D and ellipsometry allowed calculating the coupling water content which reached high values and indicated a flexible aggregate conformation in the presence of PAGC8, resulting in controlling the suspension stability even at an extremely low concentration. In order to provide an insight into the mechanism of the suspension stability of colloidal dispersions, we gave a further explanation with respect to the interactions between surfaces in the presence of the geminized polyelectrolyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Huabo Duan
- College of Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University , Shenzhen 518060, P. R. China
| | - Xu Wu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University , Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Min Wang
- Biolin Scientific AB, Shanghai Representative Office, Shanghai 200120, P. R. China
| | - Ting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Fanghui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Shizhe Huang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Gang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, P. R. China
| | - Danfeng Yu
- Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- College of Civil Engineering, Shenzhen University , Shenzhen 518060, P. R. China
| | - Jinben Wang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, P. R. China
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8
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Wang K, Liu C, Zhou W. Investigation on the interfacial properties of a viscoelastic-based surfactant as an oil displacement agent recovered from fracturing flowback fluid. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra03530b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The utilization of a viscoelastic-based surfactant recovered from fracturing flowback fluid in chemical flooding was investigated in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wang
- China National Offshore Oil Corporation Research Institute
- Beijing
- People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Offshore Oil Exploitation
- Beijing
| | - Chen Liu
- China National Offshore Oil Corporation Research Institute
- Beijing
- People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Offshore Oil Exploitation
- Beijing
| | - Wensheng Zhou
- China National Offshore Oil Corporation Research Institute
- Beijing
- People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Offshore Oil Exploitation
- Beijing
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9
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He L, Lin F, Li X, Sui H, Xu Z. Interfacial sciences in unconventional petroleum production: from fundamentals to applications. Chem Soc Rev 2015; 44:5446-94. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cs00102a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
With the ever increasing demand for energy to meet the needs of growth in population and improvement in the living standards, in particular in developing countries, the abundant unconventional oil reserves (about 70% of total world oil), such as heavy oil, oil/tar sands and shale oil, are playing an increasingly important role in securing global energy supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin He
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology
- Tianjin University
- Tianjin
- P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin)
| | - Feng Lin
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
- University of Alberta
- Edmonton
- Canada
| | - Xingang Li
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology
- Tianjin University
- Tianjin
- P. R. China
- National Engineering Research Centre of Distillation Technology
| | - Hong Sui
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology
- Tianjin University
- Tianjin
- P. R. China
- National Engineering Research Centre of Distillation Technology
| | - Zhenghe Xu
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
- University of Alberta
- Edmonton
- Canada
- Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology
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10
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Study on the reutilization of clear fracturing flowback fluids in surfactant flooding with additives for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). PLoS One 2014; 9:e113723. [PMID: 25409507 PMCID: PMC4237460 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
An investigation was conducted to study the reutilization of clear fracturing flowback fluids composed of viscoelastic surfactants (VES) with additives in surfactant flooding, making the process more efficient and cost-effective. The clear fracturing flowback fluids were used as surfactant flooding system with the addition of α-olefin sulfonate (AOS) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The interfacial activity, emulsification activity and oil recovery capability of the recycling system were studied. The interfacial tension (IFT) between recycling system and oil can be reduced by 2 orders of magnitude to 10−3 mN/m, which satisfies the basic demand of surfactant flooding. The oil can be emulsified and dispersed more easily due to the synergetic effect of VES and AOS. The oil-wet surface of quartz can be easily converted to water-wet through adsorption of surfactants (VES/AOS) on the surface. Thirteen core plug flooding tests were conducted to investigate the effects of AOS concentrations, slug sizes and slug types of the recycling system on the incremental oil recovery. The investigations prove that reclaiming clear fracturing flowback fluids after fracturing operation and reuse it in surfactant flooding might have less impact on environment and be more economical.
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11
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Natarajan A, Kuznicki N, Harbottle D, Masliyah J, Zeng H, Xu Z. Understanding mechanisms of asphaltene adsorption from organic solvent on mica. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2014; 30:9370-9377. [PMID: 24978299 DOI: 10.1021/la500864h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The adsorption process of asphaltene onto molecularly smooth mica surfaces from toluene solutions of various concentrations (0.01-1 wt %) was studied using a surface forces apparatus (SFA). Adsorption of asphaltenes onto mica was found to be highly dependent on adsorption time and asphaltene concentration of the solution. The adsorption of asphaltenes led to an attractive bridging force between the mica surfaces in asphaltene solution. The adsorption process was identified as being controlled by the diffusion of asphaltenes from the bulk solution to the mica surface with a diffusion coefficient on the order of 10(-10) m(2)/s at room temperature, depending on the asphaltene bulk concentration. This diffusion coefficient corresponds to a hydrodynamic molecular radius of approximately 0.5 nm, indicating that asphaltene diffuses to mica surfaces as individual molecules at very low concentration (e.g., 0.01 wt %). Atomic force microscopy images of the adsorbed asphaltenes on mica support the results of the SFA force measurements. The results from the SFA force measurements provide valuable insights into the molecular interactions (e.g., steric repulsion and bridging attraction as a function of distance) of asphaltenes in organic media and hence their roles in crude oil and bitumen production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Natarajan
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2V4, Canada
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12
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Harbottle D, Chen Q, Moorthy K, Wang L, Xu S, Liu Q, Sjoblom J, Xu Z. Problematic stabilizing films in petroleum emulsions: shear rheological response of viscoelastic asphaltene films and the effect on drop coalescence. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2014; 30:6730-6738. [PMID: 24845467 DOI: 10.1021/la5012764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Adsorption of asphaltenes at the water-oil interface contributes to the stability of petroleum emulsions by forming a networked film that can hinder drop-drop coalescence. The interfacial microstructure can either be liquid-like or solid-like, depending on (i) initial bulk concentration of asphaltenes, (ii) interfacial aging time, and (iii) solvent aromaticity. Two techniques--interfacial shear rheology and integrated thin film drainage apparatus--provided equivalent interface aging conditions, enabling direct correlation of the interfacial rheology and droplet stability. The shear rheological properties of the asphaltene film were found to be critical to the stability of contacting drops. With a viscous dominant interfacial microstructure, the coalescence time for two drops in intimate contact was rapid, on the order of seconds. However, as the elastic contribution develops and the film microstructure begins to be dominated by elasticity, the two drops in contact do not coalescence. Such step-change transition in coalescence is thought to be related to the high shear yield stress (~10(4) Pa), which is a function of the film shear yield point and the film thickness (as measured by quartz crystal microbalance), and the increased elastic stiffness of the film that prevents mobility and rupture of the asphaltene film, which when in a solid-like state provides an energy barrier against drop coalescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Harbottle
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6G 2V4
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13
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Nenningsland AL, Simon S, Sjöblom J. Influence of Interfacial Rheological Properties on Stability of Asphaltene-Stabilized Emulsions. J DISPER SCI TECHNOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/01932691.2013.784196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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14
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Farooq U, Sjöblom J, Øye G. Desorption of Asphaltenes from Silica-Coated Quartz Crystal Surfaces in Low Saline Aqueous Solutions. J DISPER SCI TECHNOL 2011. [DOI: 10.1080/01932691.2010.505118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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15
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Silicone oil emulsions stabilized by semi-solid nanostructures entrapped at the interface. J Colloid Interface Sci 2010; 351:102-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2010.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2010] [Revised: 07/02/2010] [Accepted: 07/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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16
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Silset A, Hannisdal A, Hemmingsen PV, Sjöblom J. Emulsions of Heavy Crude Oils. II. Viscous Responses and Their Influence on Emulsion Stability Measurements. J DISPER SCI TECHNOL 2010. [DOI: 10.1080/01932690903210341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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17
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Kumar M, Fogden A. Patterned wettability of oil and water in porous media. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2010; 26:4036-4047. [PMID: 19916532 DOI: 10.1021/la903478q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The microscopic wettability state of porous media, based on glass bead packings, after crude oil drainage of brine was investigated using X-ray micro-CT, white-light profilometry, and electron microscopy. Tomography revealed that the bulk residual brine occupied around 10% of void space, located in smaller pores and as pendular rings around bead contacts, in agreement with numerical simulations of drainage. The bead packing contained planar slabs of mica, quartz, and oxidized silicon wafer, which after flushing and disassembly of the pack allowed analysis of their wettability alteration due to deposition of asphaltenes from the crude oil. These substrates exhibited an overall pattern of rings with clean interiors, matching the brine pendular ring size inferred from experimental and simulated drainage, and asphaltene deposition in their exteriors, verifying the mixed wet model of oil reservoir wettability. The extent of asphaltene intrusion into ring interiors and completeness of asphaltene coverage of exteriors both increased with overall deposition tendency for the brine composition. The observed dependence on NaCl concentration and pH was consistent with expectations from DLVO and non-DLVO interactions governing brine thin film rupture and subsequent asphaltene deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munish Kumar
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia
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Jouault N, Corvis Y, Cousin F, Jestin J, Barré L. Asphaltene adsorption mechanisms on the local scale probed by neutron reflectivity: transition from monolayer to multilayer growth above the flocculation threshold. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2009; 25:3991-3998. [PMID: 19714825 DOI: 10.1021/la8027447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We present here a study of the adsorption of asphaltenes on hydrophilic and hydrophobic solid surfaces by coupling measurements of adsorption isotherms on the macroscopic scale on silica powder with measurements of the structure of the adsorbed asphaltene layer on the microscopic scale obtained by neutron reflectivity on flat silicon wafers. Under good-solvent conditions, if adsorption isotherms reveal that the interaction potential between asphaltenes and the surface is slightly higher for the hydrophilic surface than for the hydrophobic one, then the mechanism of adsorption is similar in both cases because all samples exhibit the same local structure of the adsorbed asphaltene layer: it is a solvated monolayer with thickness of the same order of magnitude as the size of the asphaltene aggregates in the bulk. The surface excess, gamma, is thus always of the same order (approximately 3 mg/m2). The adsorption process induces a densification of the aggregates at the interface because the adsorbed monolayer is much less solvated than aggregates in bulk solution. When a bad solvent is progressively added, the asphaltene adsorbed layer keeps its monolayer structure as long as the bulk flocculation threshold is not reached. Above the threshold, the size of the asphaltene adsorbed layer grows and forms a multilayer structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Jouault
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Nordgård EL, Landsem E, Sjöblom J. Langmuir films of asphaltene model compounds and their fluorescent properties. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2008; 24:8742-8751. [PMID: 18652499 DOI: 10.1021/la800945m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between the physicochemical properties of asphaltenes and asphaltene structure is an issue of increasing focus. Surface pressure-area isotherms of asphaltene model compounds have been investigated to gain more knowledge of their arrangement at an aqueous surface. Variations in interfacial activity have been correlated to proposed arrangements. The presence of a carboxylic acid has shown to be crucial for their interfacial activity and film properties. The acid group directs the molecules normal to the surface, forming a stable monolayer film. The high stability was absent when no acidic groups were present. Fluorescence spectra of deposited Langmuir-Blodgett films showed only the presence of the excimer emission for thin films of acidic model compounds, indicating a close face-to-face arrangement of the molecules. Time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) of the model compounds in toluene indicated the presence of aggregates for two of four compounds at low concentrations. However, a sudden drop of interfacial tension observed could not be correlated to the aggregation. Instead, aggregation induced by addition of a "poor" solvent showed decreased interfacial activity when aggregated due to decrease of monomers in bulk. The findings regarding these asphaltene model compounds and their structural differences show the great effect an acidic group has on their physicochemical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erland L Nordgård
- Ugelstad Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
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Balabin RM, Syunyaev RZ. Petroleum resins adsorption onto quartz sand: Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy study. J Colloid Interface Sci 2008; 318:167-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2007.10.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2007] [Revised: 10/19/2007] [Accepted: 10/31/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Dudášová D, Silset A, Sjöblom J. Quartz Crystal Microbalance Monitoring of Asphaltene Adsorption/Deposition. J DISPER SCI TECHNOL 2008. [DOI: 10.1080/01932690701688904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Hannisdal A, Hemmingsen PV, Silset A, Sjöblom J. Stability of Water/Crude Oil Systems Correlated to the Physicochemical Properties of the Oil Phase. J DISPER SCI TECHNOL 2007. [DOI: 10.1080/01932690701283417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Hannisdal A, Orr R, Sjöblom J. Viscoelastic Properties of Crude Oil Components at Oil‐Water Interfaces. 2: Comparison of 30 Oils. J DISPER SCI TECHNOL 2007. [DOI: 10.1080/01932690601107708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Hannisdal A, Orr R, Sjöblom J. Viscoelastic Properties of Crude Oil Components at Oil‐Water Interfaces. 1. The Effect of Dilution. J DISPER SCI TECHNOL 2007. [DOI: 10.1080/01932690600992647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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