Synthesis and Mechanistic Investigation of an Amphiphilic Polymer in Enhancing Extra-Heavy Oil Recovery via Viscosity Reduction.

When applied to extra-heavy oil, conventional polymer surfactants exhibit poor efficacy in reducing viscosity and have limited adaptability. In this work, a novel amphiphilic polymer named PAADB was prepared by incorporating 2-acryloylamino-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS), benzyldimethyl [2-[(1-oxoallyl) zoxy] propyl] ammonium chloride (DML), and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (BEM) into the main chain of acrylamide through free radical polymerization. PAADB exhibited outstanding interfacial activity, water-phase thickening ability, and emulsifying performance.

Application of Low-Salinity Waterflooding in Heavy Oil Sandstone Reservoir: Oil Recovery Efficiency and Mechanistic Study.

Low-salinity water injection (LSWI) is a recently emerged and promising technique to enhance oil recovery. In addition, it is attractive due to its relatively low-cost, environmental friendliness, and sustainability. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, and very limited research has been conducted on heavy oil.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Effects of Complex Surfactants on Oil-Water Interaction and Aggregation Characteristics at the Interface.

In response to the problem of complex interaction between oil and water in the oil-water interface, especially heavy oil and water, this study investigated the effects of complex surfactants on the interaction of two phases and their aggregation characteristics by molecular dynamics simulation. The results showed that increasing the content of sodium lauryl polyether carboxylate (AEC-9Na) was beneficial to the coordination between it and alkyl glycoside (APG-10), improved the interfacial activity, and enhanced the interfacial stability of the composite system, and the best effect was achieved when AEC-9Na:APG-10 = 8:2. The thickness of the oil and water film on the oil-water interface was irregular.

The Effect of Shear on the Properties of an Associated Polymer Solution for Oil Displacement.

Polymer flooding is one of the techniques used to enhance oil recovery from depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs. Although this technology is popular for this application, the shearing effect in the injection process causes poor performance, which is an obstacle to meeting the needs of the formation. An experimental evaluation of the rheological properties, viscoelasticity, hydrodynamic size, static adsorption, and seepage characteristics of the associated polymer solution before and after shearing was conducted to determine the influence of shearing on the polymer solution.

Experimental Investigation of Supercritical CO-Rock-Water Interactions in a Tight Formation with the Pore Scale during CO-EOR and Sequestration.

In recent years, gas injection, especially CO injection, has been acknowledged as a promising approach for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO capture and storage (CCS), especially for tight reservoirs. However, when CO is injected into the oil reservoirs, it can disturb the equilibrium of the system and lead to chemical reactions between CO, formation water, and reservoir rocks. The reactions will alter some geochemical and physicochemical characteristics of the target reservoirs.

Active site regulated Z-scheme MIL-101(Fe)/BiWO/Fe(III) with the synergy of hydrogen peroxide and visible-light-driven photo-Fenton degradation of organic contaminants.

Water pollution control is one of the major challenges currently faced. With the development of photocatalytic technology, an increasing number of new and efficient catalysts have been developed, but most of the catalysts have limited light capture ability and catalytic degradation efficiency. Therefore, in this work, hydrogen peroxide was further introduced to establish a photo-Fenton system to improve the photocatalytic effect by constructing a Z-scheme, and the degradation ability of the catalyst was maximized.

Adsorption Characteristics of Polymer Solutions on Media Surfaces and Their Main Influencing Factors.

In practical applications, the chemical and physical adsorption of a polymer solution greatly affects its action mode and effect. Understanding the adsorption mechanism and its influencing factors can help to optimize the application mode and ensure application efficiency. Three types of polymer solutions-partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), hydrophobically associating polymer (AP-P4), and dendrimer hydrophobically associating polymer (DHAP), which are viscoelastic liquids-were used as sorbates to study their adsorption by a sorbent such as quartz sand.

Photocatalytic Activity Investigation of α-Zirconium Phosphate Nanoparticles Compositing with CN under Ultraviolet Light.

In order to further develop efficient ultraviolet light-driven photocatalysts for environmental application, α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) and carbon nitride (CN) were synthesized, respectively. Then, CN-ZrP compositing nanomaterials were prepared by compositing α-ZrP nanocrystals and CN with different mass ratios. CN-ZrP compositing nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Triple Phase Inversion of Emulsions Stabilized by Amphiphilic Graphene Oxide and Cationic Surfactants.

Amphiphilic graphene oxide (A-GO) with grafted octylamine was prepared via a one-step method of ,'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide coupling and epoxide ring opening at a mild temperature of 40 °C. The phase of oil-water emulsion stabilized by the complexes of A-GO and the cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant could invert three times by adding CTAB or A-GO. This process was called triple phase inversion, which was a function of the concentration of A-GO or CTAB surfactants.

Synthesis and Solution Properties of a Novel Hyperbranched Polymer Based on Chitosan for Enhanced Oil Recovery.

A new type of chitosan-modified hyperbranched polymer (named HPDACS) was synthesized through the free-radical polymerization of surface-modified chitosan with acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) to achieve an enhanced oil recovery. The optimal polymerization conditions of HPDACS were explored and its structure was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance, and environmental scanning electron microscopy. The solution properties of HPDACS in ultrapure water and simulated brine were deeply studied and then compared with those of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) and a dendritic polymer named HPDA.

The seepage flow characteristics of hydrophobically associated polymers with different aggregation behaviours in porous media.

The polymer solution for oil displacement is subjected to strong shear action in practical application, and this action will affect its percolation characteristics in porous media. The effects of mechanical shearing on the solution properties and seepage characteristics of modified hydrophobically associated polymers and dendrimers with two different aggregation behaviours were studied. The results showed that mechanical shearing did not affect hydrophobic microzones.

Experimental Investigation of Hydrophobically Modified α-ZrP Nanosheets for Enhancing Oil Recovery in Low-Permeability Sandstone Cores.

Highly crystalline α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) nanoparticles were synthesized and exfoliated into nanosheets, and then the hydrophilic nanosheets were modified into hydrophobic nanosheets with octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS). Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis were applied to confirm the morphology and chemical structure of the nanosheets. Contact angle measurement was conducted to explore the wettability alteration of the hydrophobically modified α-ZrP nanosheets, and the result showed that the wettability of the core was changed into hydrophobicity.

Preparation and application of melamine cross-linked poly ammonium as shale inhibitor.

In this paper, a series of poly ammonium shale inhibitors were prepared from diethylamine, epichlorohydrin, and melamine (DEM) and their inhibition to shale were evaluated by bentonite linear expansion test, anti-swelling experiments, and mud ball experiments. Additionally, other properties of drilling fluid treated by poly ammonium were evaluated. Anti-swelling results showed that anti-swelling rate of DEM-8 reaches up to 97.

Preparation and Application of a New Crosslinked Polyammonium as a Shale Inhibitor.

Background: Despite the fact that a number of traditional shale inhibitors have been utilized widely in drilling operations, the same additive may be unfavorable for different drilling due to environmental protection requirements which limit scales of use. Hence, a series of polyammonium compounds was prepared from dimethylamine, epichlorohydrin, and melamine (DEM).

Methods: To concentrate our efforts, we used both standard and extra methods to investigate the inhibitive properties of a melamine crosslinking agent using mud balls immersion tests, linear expansion measurements, laser particle distribution measurements, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.

An efficient supramolecular adsorbent for co-adsorption of dyes and metal ions from wastewater and its application in self-healing materials.

Herein, a novel type of two-component supramolecular adsorbent, 2-OA, was developed based on non-covalent interactions using tetrazolyl derivative with octadecylamine (OA) and fully characterized using a number of structural and spectral techniques. The self-assembled 2-OA gels displayed remarkable stimuli-responsiveness as well as shape-persistent and self-healing properties. In addition, it was found that the adsorbent 2-OA was able to remove dyes (10 kinds of cationic and anionic dyes) and metal ions (Cu and Fe) simultaneously from wastewater owing to synergistic electrostatic attraction, hydrogen-bonding, and hydrophobic and coordination interactions.

Self-healing supramolecular heterometallic gels based on the synergistic effect of the constituent metal ions.

Supramolecular heterometallic gels with synergistic properties were prepared for the first time using ligand with Co(2+) and Ni(2+), and their macroscopic self-healing has been achieved by improving the unfavorable viscoelasticity of each monometallic gel.

Dual-responsive two-component supramolecular gels for self-healing materials and oil spill recovery.

Dual-responsive two-component supramolecular gels with self-healing properties were prepared using tetrazolyl derivatives and alkylamine, and were also applied in selectively congealing crude oil from an oil-water mixture.

Self-healing and moldable material with the deformation recovery ability from self-assembled supramolecular metallogels.

A self-assembled non-covalent metallogel system with self-healing, deformation recoverable, moldable and bottom-up load-bearing properties was prepared using tetrazolyl derivatives and Pd(OAc)2.

A microvolume molecularly imprinted polymer modified fiber-optic evanescent wave sensor for bisphenol A determination.

A fiber-optic evanescent wave sensor for bisphenol A (BPA) determination based on a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-modified fiber column was developed. MIP film immobilized with BPA was synthesized on the fiber column, and the sensor was then constructed by inserting the optical fiber prepared into a transparent capillary. A microchannel (about 2.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel water-soluble copolymers based on acrylamide and modular β-cyclodextrin.

Mono-6-(allyl amino)-β-cyclodextrin (N-β-CD) and mono-2-O-(allyl oxygen radicals-2-hydroxyl propyl)-β-cyclodextrin (O-β-CD) were copolymerized with acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), and 1-llyl-3-oil acyloxyimidazole-1-ammonion bramide (AOAB) initiated by redox initiation system in an aqueous medium. The AM/AA/AOAB/N-β-CD and AM/AA/AOAB/O-β-CD were prepared by adjusting the reactive conditions, such as initiator concentration, pH, temperature, and monomer ratios. The obtained copolymers were characterized by means of infrared (IR) spectroscopy, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), rotational rheometer, intrinsic viscosity, salt resistance, core flood test, etc.

An integrated micro-volume fiber-optic sensor for oxygen determination in exhaled breath based on iridium(III) complexes immobilized in fluorinated xerogels.

A novel integrated fiber-optic sensor with micro detection volume is developed and evaluated for O(2) determination on a breath-by-breath basis in human health monitoring applications. The sensing element was fabricated by dip-coating an uncladded optical fiber with [Ir(piq)(2)(acac)]-doped hybrid fluorinated ORMOSIL (organically modified silicate) film, which was prepared from 3,3,3-trifluoropropyltrimethoxysilane (TFP-TriMOS) and n-propyltrimethoxysilane (n-propyl-TriMOS). The sensor was then constructed by inserting the prepared optical fiber into a transparent capillary.

Flow injection small-volume fiber-optic pH sensor based on evanescent wave excitation and fluorescence determination.

A small-volume fiber-optic pH sensor (FOEWS) based on evanescent wave excitation is developed and evaluated. The sensor is simply fabricated by inserting a decladded optical fiber into a transparent capillary tube. A microchannel between the optical fiber and the capillary inner wall was formed and acted as flow cell for solution flowing through.

The ultralow interfacial tensions between crude oils and gemini surfactant solutions.

In this paper, the interfacial tension between crude oil and solution of cationic gemini surfactant has been studied. It is found that the interfacial tension between crude oil and water is closely related to the nature of a gemini surfactant and oil; meanwhile, in the case without additives, some gemini surfactants or mixtures of some gemini surfactants can reduce the interfacial tension between crude oil and water to an ultralow value.