Effect of diutan microbial polysaccharide on the stability and rheological properties of O/W nanoemulsions formed with a blend of Span20-Tween20

The stability and rheological behavior of oil-in-water (O/W) nano-emulsions formed with a blend of Span20-Tween20 have been studied with and without diutan microbial polysaccharide. It is found that there exist thresholds for the water content and emulsifier to obtain stable nano-emulsions using the emulsion inversion phase (EIP) method. The viscosity of the nano-emulsion is proportional to the emulsifier content and inversely proportional to the water content. High emulsifier content is not conducive to the thermal stability of the nano-emulsion. The addition of diutan gum with negative charge into the nano-emulsions increases the electrostatic repulsion between droplets and makes the droplet size smaller and more unifom, slowing down the coalescence and Ostwald ripening of the nano-emulsions. Due to the association of the diutan gum double helix, a three-dimensional network structure is formed in the continuous phase of nano-emulsions, which improves the stability of nano-emulsions and is also the main factor giving the nano-emulsion high viscoelasticity at high temperature. This study offers new insight into the nano-emulsion containing microbial polysaccharide and may serve as a guideline for practical applications of new nano-emulsion systems.     

Interaction Between the Hydrophobically Modified Polyacrylamide and HPAM-Flooding Produced Liquid

In order to utilize the produced liquid of hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) flooding to enhance oil recovery, the interaction between hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide (HMPAM) and the produced liquid of HPAM flooding was investigated. The viscous characteristic of HMPAM in aqueous solution was investigated by Ubbelohde viscometer. The results show the intrinsic viscosity of HMPAM in aqueous solution is higher than that of HPAM, indicating that HMPAM has better effect on increasing the viscosity of aqueous solution. The viscosity of the complex system consisted of HMPAM and the produced liquid from HPAM flooding is lower than that of the HMPAM system, but higher than that of the HMPAM/HPAM complex system in mineralized water. In order to investigate the major factor of the influence on the viscosity of the HMPAM/produced liquid complex system, the viscosities of HMPAM/HPAM (and hydrolyzed HPAM with different hydrolysis degree) in distilled water and in mineralized water were studied. The fluorescence spectrum and transmission electron microscopy measurements were carried out to investigate the interaction between HPMAM and produced liquid from a microscopic perspective. These results are useful for farther enhancing oil recovery after HPAM flooding.     

Phase behavior and nano-emulsion formation by the phase inversion temperature method

Formation of oil-in-water nano-emulsions has been studied in the water/C12E4/isohexadecane system by the phase inversion temperature emulsification method. Emulsification started at the corresponding hydrophilic-lipophilic balance temperature, and then the samples were quickly cooled to 25 degrees C. The influence of phase behavior on nano-emulsion droplet size and stability has been studied. Droplet size was determined by dynamic light scattering, and nano-emulsion stability was assessed, measuring the variation of droplet size as a function of time. The results obtained showed that the smallest droplet sizes were produced in samples where the emulsification started in a bicontinuous microemulsion (D) phase region or in a two-phase region consisting of a microemulsion (D) and a liquid crystalline phase (L(alpha)). Although the breakdown process of nano-emulsions could be attributed to the oil transference from the smaller to the bigger droplets, the increase in instability found with the increase in surfactant concentration may be related to the higher surfactant excess, favoring the oil micellar transport between the emulsion droplets.     

Study of surfactant-polymer system containing a novel ternary sulfonated polyacrylamide on the oil-water interface properties

A novel ternary sulfonated polyacrylamide was synthesized using 2,2′-azobis[2- methylpropionamidine] dihydrochloride and redox initiation system as initiator, respectively. The competitive adsorption of the ternary sulfonated polyacrylamide (TSPAM) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) on the oil-water interface was investigated by equilibrium interfacial tension, interfacial viscoelasticity, zeta potendial and interfacial film strength. The SDBS molecules in the surfactant-polymer (SP) system preferentially adsorb on the oil-water interface due to the amphiphilic structure of the SDBS molecules. Electrostatic force between the charged groups of the polyacrylamide and the head groups of surfactant adsorbed on the interface in the SP system leads to the formation of the complex interface film, which is helpful to enhance the stability of the oil-water interface. The ternary sulfonated polyacrylamide (TSPAM) has a similar influence on the other interface properties with SDBS except the interfacial tension. The interfacial tension decreases and then increases with increasing of the TSPAM concentration due to the competitive adsorption of the TSPAM molecules and the SDBS molecules on the oil-water interface. Moreover, TSPAM has the more influence on the stability of oil-water interface than partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) in the SP system, and the addition of TSPAM is better to improve the stability of emulsion in the SP flooding.     

Formation of water-in-oil (W/O) nano-emulsions in a water/mixed non-ionic surfactant/oil systems prepared by a low-energy emulsification method

W/O nano-emulsion formation by a low-energy emulsification method is described for the first time. The nano-emulsions have been formed in water/mixed Cremophor EL:Cremophor WO7 surfactant/isopropyl myristate systems at Cremophor EL:Cremophor WO7 ratios between 1:2 and 1:9, by slow addition of isopropyl myristate to surfactant/water mixtures. Phase behaviour studies have showed that the compositions giving rise to W/O nano-emulsions belong to multiphase regions, one of the phases being a lamellar liquid crystalline phase. The droplet size of the nano-emulsions at a fixed oil concentration of 85% and mixed surfactants/water ratio of 70/30 ranged from 60 to 160 nm as Cremophor EL:Cremophor WO7 ratio increased from 1:8 to 1:2. These nano-emulsions showed high kinetic stability. No phase separation was observed during 5 months in nano-emulsions of the water/Cremophor EL:Cremophor WO7 1:8/isopropyl myristate system with 85% oil concentration, although droplet size experienced an increase with time.     

Properties of water-in-oil (W/O) nano-emulsions prepared by a low-energy emulsification method

Properties of water-in-oil (W/O) nano-emulsion formed by a low-energy emulsification method are described in this work. Nano-emulsions have been formed in water/mixed non-ionic surfactant/decane. Several mixtures of Span 20, Span 80, Tween 20 and Tween 80 were studied. Phase behavior studies and stability studies allowed to determine zones where nano-emulsions can be formed. Bluish and transparent W/O nano-emulsion with droplet sizes as low as 30 nm was formed. Nano-emulsion droplet size was measured by Dynamic Light Scattering. Nano-emulsions stability was studied by multiple light scattering and by dynamic light scattering. The results showed the evolution with time of the average radius droplet. The nano-emulsions prepared showed high kinetic stability for weeks, without phase separation, sedimentation or creaming. Nevertheless, their droplet size increased slightly over time. Stability studies show that nano-emulsion breakdown could be attributed to Ostwald ripening and coalescence mechanism, depending on the water concentration.     

表面活性剂对驱油聚合物界面剪切流变性质的影响

利用双锥法研究了表面活性剂十二烷基苯磺酸钠(SDBS)和十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)对油田现场用部分水解聚丙烯酰胺(PHPAM)和疏水改性聚丙烯酰胺(HMPAM)溶液的界面剪切流变性质的影响,实验结果表明:HMPAM分子通过疏水作用形成界面网络结构,界面剪切复合模量明显高于PHPAM.SDBS和CTAB通过疏水相互作用与HMPAM分子中的疏水嵌段形成聚集体,破坏界面网络结构,剪切模量随表面活性剂浓度增大明显降低.同时,界面膜从粘性膜向弹性膜转变.低SDBS浓度时,少量SDBS分子与PHPAM形成混合吸附膜,界面膜强度略有升高;SDBS浓度较高时,界面层中PHPAM分子被顶替,吸附膜强度开始减弱.阳离子表面活性剂CTAB通过静电相互作用中和PHPAM分子的负电性,造成聚合物链的部分卷曲,从而降低界面膜强度.弛豫实验结果证实了表面活性剂破坏HMPAM网络结构的机理.     

Influence of pH and cationic surfactant on stability and interfacial properties of Algerian bitumen emulsion

The influence of water pH and cationic surfactant content on the interfacial properties and stability of an Algerian bitumen aqueous emulsion were investigated. While the stability was quantified by both the test-bottle method and size distribution measurements, the interfacial properties of the water-bitumen interface were assessed using interfacial tension measurements. Optical microscopy was also used to visualise the dispersed water droplets in the oil phase. The results showed that addition of the cationic surfactant at a concentration of 25 mmol L^?1 in acidic water (pH 2) improves the bitumen emulsion stability and effectively decreases the interfacial tension.     

Preparation of positively charged oil/water nano-emulsions with a sub-PIT method

The phase inversion temperature (PIT) method is generally used to prepare nonionic surfactant stabilized nano-emulsions because of its low energy and surfactant consumption. The emulsion droplets are usually negatively charged because of the selective adsorption of OH(-) onto the droplet surfaces. In this work, positively charged oil/water nano-emulsions were prepared by adding a cationic surfactant to the system. The cationic molecules change the spontaneous curvature of the surfactant layers and raise the PIT above 100 °C. The PIT can be depressed by addition of NaBr, as shown by conductivity measurements and equilibrium phase behavior. Therefore, these nano-emulsions can be prepared by the PIT method. We found that the formation of the nano-emulsions did not require a cross-PIT cycle. The mechanism of the emulsification is the formation of mixed swollen micelles that can solubilize all the oil above a "clearing boundary", followed by a stir-quench to a temperature where these droplets become metastable emulsions. The zeta potential of the emulsion droplets can be easily tuned by varying the cationic surfactant concentrations. Due to electrosteric stabilization, the resulting nano-emulsions are highly stable, thus could find significant applications in areas such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food industries.     

Stability of triazophos in self-nanoemulsifying pesticide delivery system

Formation of nano-emulsions has been studied in the system water/nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (S₁)/triazophos or water/nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether/N-octyl-2-pyrrolidone (S₂)/triazophos at 25 °C by low-energy emulsification methods: stepwise addition of water to a solution of the surfactant in oil. Nano-emulsions’ high kinetic stability has been obtained at oil weight fractions lower than 0.25 or 0.20 for the two systems respectively. Phase behavior studies have revealed that compositions giving rise to nano-emulsions consist of Om (isotropic liquid phase), Wm (O/W micro-emulsion), La (lamellar liquid crystalline), and O (oil) phases, at equilibrium. Droplet sizes of the nano-emulsions were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS), and mean sizes are within the typical droplet radius of nano-emulsion except for low-dilution-fold; the higher the water concentration, the higher the size. The hydrolysis of triazophos was studied in buffered solutions with pH 5, 7 and 9, the results showed that triazophos is relatively stable in acidic and neutral solutions and easily hydrolyzed in basic solutions. Furthermore, the research indicated triazophos can be protected from hydrolysis by incorporating into nano-emulsion system. The effect of surfactant on the hydrolysis inhibition of triazophos in the basic condition is more prominent than that in acidic condition.     

Influence of pH on the stability of oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by a splittable surfactant

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pH on the stability of oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by a commercial splittable surfactant Triton SP-190 by comparison with the results obtained by a common surfactant Triton X-100. The emulsion stability was explored by measuring the volume of oil phase separated and the size of the dispersed droplets. It was found that the addition of inorganic acids did not significantly affect the stability of emulsions stabilized by Triton X-100, but had a profound influence on the stability of emulsions stabilized by Triton SP-190. Moreover, the droplet size of a Triton X-100-stabilized emulsion and its dynamic interfacial activity were insensitive to acids. However, at lower pH the droplet size of the emulsions stabilized by Triton SP-190 was considerably increased. From the dynamic interfacial tension measurements the dynamic interfacial activity of Triton SP-190 at the oil/water interface was found to be strongly inhibited by the addition of acids, resulting in a slower decreasing rate of dynamic interfacial tension. The results demonstrate that the dramatic destabilization of Triton SP-190-stabilized emulsions could be realized by the use of acids, which evidently changed the interfacial properties of the surfactant and resulted in a higher coalescence rate of oil droplets.     

Novel Oil‐in‐Water Emulsions Stabilised by Ionic Surfactant and Similarly Charged Nanoparticles at Very Low Concentrations

Novel oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsions are prepared which are stabilised by a cationic surfactant in combination with similarly charged alumina nanoparticles at concentrations as low as 10^?5 m and 10^?4 wt %, respectively. The surfactant molecules adsorb at the oil‐water interface to reduce the interfacial tension and endow droplets with charge ensuring electrical repulsion between them, whereas the charged particles are dispersed in the aqueous films between droplets retaining thick lamellae, reducing water drainage and hindering flocculation and coalescence of droplets. This stabilization mechanism is universal as it occurs with different oils (alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons and triglycerides) and in mixtures of anionic surfactant and negatively charged nanoparticles. Further, such emulsions can be switched between stable and unstable by addition of an equimolar amount of oppositely charged surfactant which forms ion pairs with the original surfactant destroying the repulsion between droplets.     

纳米SiO2/HPAM/NaCl分散体系的稳定性、流变性及驱油性能研究

利用纳米粒度及Zeta电位分析仪、流变仪和悬滴法对纳米SiO_2/HPAM/NaCl体系60℃的稳定性、流变性及油水界面张力进行了研究。结果表明,HPAM的加入使SiO_2悬浮液的Zeta电位更负、粒径明显增加,静置10 d无明显浑浊现象。加入纳米SiO_2后,HPAM溶液的黏度增加,耐温、耐盐和耐剪切性能得到改善。对于质量分数为0.18%的HPAM溶液,SiO_2质量分数小于0.5%时,随SiO_2质量分数的增加,体系的黏度、储能模量和损耗模量增加,临界线性应变减小,蠕变回复能力增强;SiO_2质量分数大于0.5%时,出现了相反的现象;这是因为SiO_2质量分数不同时,HPAM在SiO_2表面的吸附量、吸附构型及两者之间形成的网状结构不同。纳米SiO_2的加入同时强化了HPAM降低油水界面张力的性能,加入质量分数为0.2%和0.5%的SiO_2后,HPAM的采收率分别提高了4.5%和6.0%。     

疏水改性聚丙烯酰胺对原油组分界面扩张流变性质的影响

利用悬挂滴方法研究了疏水改性聚丙烯酰胺(HMPAM)对胜利采油厂高温高盐油藏采出原油中酸性活性组分和沥青质界面膜扩张流变性质的影响,考察了不同活性组分浓度条件下的界面扩张流变行为.实验结果表明:1750mg·L-1HMPAM能够在界面上形成网络结构,界面扩张模量数值高达100mN·m-1左右;油相中的酸性组分随着老化时间增加吸附到界面上,与HMPAM分子的疏水改性部分形成聚集结构,一方面通过快速的扩散交换过程大大降低扩张模量,另一方面通过与疏水改性部分的相互作用加强HMPAM分子间的缔合强度,增强网络结构的弹性.沥青质分子尺寸相对较大,分子间存在氢键等较强的相互作用,造成沥青质界面聚集体和HMPAM形成的网络结构共同决定界面膜性质,混合膜的扩张模量较单独HMPAM体系仅略有降低.     

驱油体系化学剂间相互作用对界面吸附膜的影响

采用界面张力弛豫技术研究了不对称Gemini表面活性剂C12COONa-p-C9SO3Na、部分水解聚丙烯酰胺Mo-4000、疏水缔合水溶性聚丙烯酰胺(HMPAM)等驱油体系化学剂在癸烷/水界面上的扩张流变性质,考察了不同离子强度、不同类型电解质对体系界面流变性质的影响,计算得到界面扩张弹性模量和粘性模量的全频率谱,并通过归一化方法(cole-cole图)探讨了界面吸附膜的弛豫过程。研究发现,界面膜内分子重排和界面与体相间分子扩散交换是影响膜性质的主要弛豫过程。表面活性剂体相浓度增大有利于界面分子重排过程,而低频有利于扩散交换过程;不同结构聚合物以及不同离子强度、不同类型电解质对表面活性剂吸附膜有不同的影响。     

The influence of surfactant mixing ratio on nano-emulsion formation by the pit method

The formation of O/W nano-emulsions by the PIT emulsification method in water/mixed nonionic surfactant/oil systems has been studied. The hydrophilic-lipophilic properties of the surfactant were varied by mixing polyoxyethylene 4-lauryl ether (C12E4) and polyoxyethylene 6-lauryl ether (C12E6). Emulsification was performed in samples with constant oil concentration (20 wt%) by fast cooling from the corresponding HLB temperature to 25 degrees C. Nano-emulsions with droplet radius 60-70 nm and 25-30 nm were obtained at total surfactant concentrations of 4 and 8 wt%, respectively. Moreover, droplet size remained practically unchanged, independent of the surfactant mixing ratio, X(C12E6). At 4 wt% surfactant concentration, the polydispersity and instability of nano-emulsions increased with the increase in X(C12E6). However, at 8 wt% surfactant concentration, nano-emulsions with low polydispersity and high stability were obtained in a wide range of surfactant mixing ratios. Phase behavior studies showed that at 4 wt% surfactant concentration, three-liquid phases (W+D+O) coexist at the starting emulsification temperature. Furthermore, the excess oil phase with respect to the microemulsion D-phase increases with the increase in X(C12E6), which could explain the increase in instability. At 8 wt% surfactant concentration, a microemulsion D-phase is present when emulsification starts. The low droplet size and polydispersity and higher stability of these nano-emulsions have been attributed, in addition to the increase in the surface or interfacial activity, to the spontaneous emulsification produced in the microemulsion D-phase.     

Effect of liquid paraffin on the stability of aqueous foam in the presence and absence of electrolytes

The foam stability of dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate solution with liquid paraffin droplets in the presence and absence of electrolytes was evaluated, and the stabilization mechanisms were deduced. The foam film is stabilized when the monovalent and divalent counterion concentration is lower than a critical value. However, the foam stability declined with the addition of trivalent counterions. There are two mechanisms we have speculated. Firstly, the counterions reduce the repulsive interaction between the polar groups of surfactants adsorbed at the air/water and oil/water interfaces in the pseudo-emulsion film. Secondly, comparing with the monovalent counterions, the multivalent counterions are not only able to interconnect head groups of adjacent ionic surfactant molecules which are adsorbed at the air/water or oil/water interface, but also to attract the couples of neighboring surfactant head groups adsorbed at the air/water and oil/water interfaces. The attractive interaction between both the interfaces promotes the emulsified droplets piercing the air/water interface.     

Relationship Between the Polymer Structures and Destabilization of Polymer‐Containing Water‐in‐Oil Emulsions

The viscous properties, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and water/oil interfacial tension (IFT) of partially hydrolyzed polyacryamide (HPAM) and hydrophobically associating hydrolyzed polyacryamides modified with N‐dodecylacrylamide were studied with the objective of investigating the influence on destabilization of emulsions. As expected, the copolymers exhibit significant viscosity enhancing capacity and three‐dimensional network structures due to intermolecular hydrophobic associations, and also present high interfacial activities as the IFT decrease with increasing polymer concentration. As a result, the existences of copolymers increased both the viscosity of emulsions and the intensity of interfacial film, in which case slow down the diffusion of demulsifier molecules and enhance the stability of emulsions, finally, the separation of water from oil becomes more difficult.     

Effect of Polymer on Dynamic Interfacial Tensions of Anionic–nonionic Surfactant Solutions

The dynamic interfacial tensions (IFTs) of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) surfactant/polymer systems against n-decane have been investigated using a spinning drop interfacial tensiometer in this paper. Two anionic–nonionic surfactants with different hydrophilic groups, C₈PO₆EO₃S (6-3) and C₈PO₆EO₆S (6-6), were selected as model surfactants. Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) and hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide (HMPAM) were employed. The influences of surfactant concentration, temperature, polymer concentration, and oleic acid in the oil on IFTs have been studied. The experimental results show that anionic–nonionic surfactants can form compact adsorption films and reach ultralow IFT (10^?3 mN/m) under optimum conditions. The addition of polymer has great influence on dynamic IFTs between surfactant solutions and n-decane mainly by the formation of looser mixed films resulting from the penetration of polymer chains into the interface. The compact surfactant film will also be weakened by the competitive adsorption of oleic acid, which results in the increase of IFT. Moreover, the penetration of polymer chains will be further destroyed surfactant/polymer mixed layer and lead to the obvious increase of IFT. On the other hand, polymers show little effect on the IFTs of 6-6 systems than those of 6-3 because of the hindrance of longer EO chain of 6-6 at the interface.     

Interfacial dilational properties of partly hydrolyzed polyacrylamide and gemini surfactant at the decane–water interface

The dilational viscoelastic properties of partly hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) and surfactant (C₁₂COONa-p-C₉SO₃Na) in the absence or presence of electrolyte were investigated at the decane–water interface by means of longitudinal method and the interfacial tension relaxation method. The polymer plays different roles in influencing the structure of HPAM–surfactant mix-adsorbed layer at different surfactant concentration. At low surfactant concentration, the addition of polymer could sharply decrease the dilational elasticity mainly due to the weakening of the “entanglement” among long alkyl chains in surfactant molecules, while the addition of the polymer may enhance the dilational elasticity due to the slow diffusivity of the polymer chains at higher surfactant concentration. And the added electrolyte, which results in screening of electrostatic interactions between the ionized groups, generally decreases the interfacial dilational elasticity and increases the dilational viscosity. The data obtained on the relaxation processes via interfacial tension relaxation measurement can explain the results from dilational viscoelasticity measurements very well.