Imidazolium-based ionic liquids as dispersants to improve the stability of asphaltene in Egyptian heavy crude oil

In-situ upgrading of Egyptian heavy crude oil using matrix polymer carboxyl methyl cellulose/silicate graphene oxide nanocomposites

This study delves into catalytic aquathermolysis to enhance the economic viability of heavy oil production by in-situ upgrading technique. It is known that introducing nanocatalysts would promote the aquathermolysis reaction. Therefore, in this study, the effect of matrix polymer carboxyl methyl cellulose/silicate graphene oxide nanocomposites (CSG1 and CSG2) in the catalytic aquathermolysis of Egyptian heavy crude oil was studied. Characterization techniques including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to evaluate the structure of the synthesized nanocomposites. Results reveal CSG2 has higher crystallinity and superior dispersion compared to CSG1, and both exhibited a good stability in aqueous suspensions. CSG2 enriched with graphene oxide, demonstrates superior thermal stability, suitable for high-temperature applications such as catalytic aquathermolysis process. Single factor and orthogonal tests were used to assess the catalytic aquathermolysis performance of the prepared nanoparticles. The obtained results revealed that the optimum conditions to use CSG1 and CSG2 are 40% water concentration, 225 °C temperature, and 0.5 wt% catalyst percentage. Where, CSG2 showed better viscosity reduction (82%) compared to CSG1 (62%), highlighting its superior performance in reducing the viscosity of heavy oil. Numerical results from SARA analysis, gas chromatography, and rheological testing confirmed the catalytic aquathermolysis's efficacy in targeting asphaltene macromolecules and producing lighter hydrocarbon fractions.

Preparation and application of an economical and environmentally friendly hydrate inhibitor in gas field development

The prevention and control of natural gas hydrates is an important link in ensuring winter production. Traditional thermodynamic inhibitors, like methanol, are commonly utilized due to their low unit costs and pricing, but they come with considerable safety issues when used on-site due to their high toxicity, flammability, and explosive potential. A cost-effective and eco-friendly hydrate inhibitor was created by combining light polyol amine with other ingredients to solve this problem. At a concentration of 30%, the product has a flash point greater than 80°C and a solidification point of -45°C. With success rates of 99% and 100%, respectively, it was used for winter casing pre-injection anti-freezing operations and balancing tank defoamer anti-freezing operations. Experiments have demonstrated the effectiveness of this inhibitor in preventing the formation of natural gas hydrates. In wintertime on-site anti-freezing activities, the projected cost can be substituted for methanol, as it is essentially equivalent to methanol.

Experimental and computational studies of novel cyclic ammonium based ionic liquids as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in acid medium

The challenge of corrosion posed as a result of acidic sittings is considered as a major industrial concern, wherein ionic liquids serve as crucial in addressing the corrosive impacts on metals. In this study, five selected cyclic ammonium based ionic liquids were synthesized; IL-1MPyrBr, IL-1MPipBr, IL-2PyBr, IL-3MPyBr and IL-4MPyBr and their chemical structures were characterized using a variety of spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, IH-NMR, 13C-NMR, Elemental analysis and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Their corrosion inhibition efficiency was studied on carbon steel in 1 M HCl via different concentrations at 298 K using chemical and electrochemical parameters (PDP and EIS). DFT quantum parameters were computed, and the noted results were in complete compatible with the experimental. The synthesized ILs recorded excellent inhibition on the carbon steel corrosion in acidic media with increasing efficiency by increasing the inhibitor concentrations from 20 to 100 ppm. Different cations in the synthesized ILs affect the anti-corrosion effect and IL-3MPyBr showed the highest inhibition (ηR); 96.12% using the lowest concentration. Kinetic and thermodynamic considerations were studied and illustrated.

Surface active dicationic ionic liquids as green oil spill dispersants

The utilization of chemical dispersants as a way of mitigating of oil spills in marine eco-system has been extensively documented worldwide. Hence, in this research we have successfully synthesized two amphiphilic asymmetric Dicaionic Ionic Liquids (DILs). The efficacy of these synthesized DILs as dispersants was assessed using the baffled flask test (BFT). The results indicated a dispersant effectiveness ranging from 47.98 % to 79.76 % for the dispersion of heavy crude oil across various temperature ranges (10-30 °C). These dispersant-to-oil ratios (DOR) were maintained at 3: 100 (V%), showcasing promising dispersant capabilities for mitigating heavy crude oil spills. Additionally, acute toxicity tests conducted on Nile tilapia and Oreochromis niloticus have demonstrated the relatively low toxicity of the IL-dispersants, with Lethal Concentration 50 (LC50) values exceeding 100 ppm after 96 h. This suggests a practically slight toxic effect on the tested fish. In summary, the newly developed IL-dispersants are considered to be conducive to environmentally benign oil spill remediation.

Research Progress in Nanoparticle Inhibitors for Crude Oil Asphaltene Deposition

Currently, the alteration of external factors during crude oil extraction easily disrupts the thermodynamic equilibrium of asphaltene, resulting in the continuous flocculation and deposition of asphaltene molecules in crude oil. This accumulation within the pores of reservoir rocks obstructs the pore throat, hindering the efficient extraction of oil and gas, and consequently, affecting the recovery of oil and gas resources. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the principles of asphaltene deposition inhibition and the synthesis of asphaltene inhibitors. In recent years, the development of nanotechnology has garnered significant attention due to its unique surface and volume effects. Nanoparticles possess a large specific surface area, high adsorption capacity, and excellent suspension and catalytic abilities, exhibiting unparalleled advantages compared with traditional organic asphaltene inhibitors, such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate and salicylic acid. At present, there are three primary types of nanoparticle inhibitors: metal oxide nanoparticles, organic nanoparticles, and inorganic nonmetal nanoparticles. This paper reviews the recent advancements and application challenges of nanoparticle asphaltene deposition inhibition technology based on the mechanism of asphaltene deposition and nano-inhibitors. The aim was to provide insights for ongoing research in this field and to identify potential future research directions.

Evaluation of ionic liquids based imidazolium salts as an environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in HCl solutions

The features of this work on corrosion inhibition have been investigated based on the ecological awareness and according to the strict environmental legislations. This was done by studying how different imidazolium derivatives ionic liquids containing different alkyl chains R8, R10 and R12 affected the corrosion reaction of carbon steel specimen immersed in 1 M hydrochloric acid at various temperatures. Weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were utilized to examine the corrosion inhibition behavior on carbon steel. In addition, FT-IR spectroscopy was used to analyze the coated film that has been formed on the metal surface. The prepared ionic liquids showed effective inhibition efficiency, where the corrosion rate after the using of 100 ppm of R8-IL, R10-IL and R12-IL was decreased from 5.95 (µg cm-2 min-1) to 0.66, 0.56, and 0.44 (µg cm-2 min-1), respectively at 20 °C. In the polarization curves, the corrosion current, Icorr, decreases by ILs addition and suggest that ILs act as mixed type inhibitors. From EIS findings, the increase in Rct and decrease in Cdl values proves the adherence of inhibitor molecules on carbon steel surface. The temperature effect was also studied on the film formed, where increasing the temperature from 20 to 50 °C, the corrosion rate increased and the inhibitors efficacy decreased. The increasing in the length of the attached alkyl chain, the efficacies of the prepared inhibitors increases. Various thermodynamic parameters such as the reaction activation free energy (ΔG*), the entropy of activation (ΔS*), and the enthalpy of activation (ΔH*), as well as the adsorption isotherm were investigated in order to interpret the mechanism and obtain the most accurate perception.