Application of synthesized FeO@Gelatin nanoparticles on interfacial properties and enhanced oil recovery.

Due to the unique properties of nanoparticles (NPs), their application has been proposed as an innovative and promising enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique. They enhance oil recovery by improving EOR mechanisms including decreasing interfacial tension (IFT), wettability alteration to water-wet, and preventing asphaltene precipitation. In this study, FeO@Gelatin NPs were synthesized by a convenient and single-step method and then investigated for EOR purposes for the first time. These NPS were characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Afterward, various experiments including contact angle, interfacial tension (IFT), and micromodel flooding were performed to evaluate the capability of FeO@Gelatin NPs for EOR application. Based on the results of IFT measurements, the synthesized NPs caused the highest reduction in IFT of crude oil-seawater compared to FeO NPs and gelatin. This significant reduction is due to the synergistic effects of FeO NPs and gelatin in the form of a nanocomposite. According to the results from contact angle measurements, the FeO@Gelatin NPs could significantly change the glass surface wettability from oil-wet to water-wet, which showed a better performance than FeO NPs. The surface modification of FeO NPs with gelatin causes to enhance the capability of these NPs for wettability alteration because the gelatin has surface active property. In the micromodel flooding tests, the seawater containing 0.06 wt. % FeO@Gelatin NPs had the highest oil recovery factor (RF = 42.9%) compared to the seawater containing 0.06 wt. % FeO NPs (RF = 33.92%) and only seawater (RF = 26.57%), due to more IFT reduction and altering the surface wettability from oil-wet to strongly water-wet. Therefore, according to the results of this research, the synthesized NPs can be a good option for EOR.