Synthesis and properties of nonylphenol-substituted dodecyl sulfonate

Nonylphenol-substituted dodecyl sulfonate (C₁₂-NPAS) was synthesized via sulfonation-alkylation-neutralization using 1-dodecene, SO₃, and nonylphenol as raw materials. The properties such as surface tension, interfacial tension (IFT), wettability, foam properties, and salinity tolerance of C₁₂-NPAS were systematically investigated. The results show that the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of C₁₂-NPAS was 0.22?mmol?·?L^?1 and the surface tension at the CMC (γ_CMC) of C₁₂-NPAS was 29.4 mN/m. When compared with the traditional surfactants sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), the surface properties of C₁₂-NPAS were found to be superior. The IFT between Daqing crude oil and a weak-base alkaline/surfactant/polymer (ASP) oil flooding system containing 0.1?wt% of C₁₂-NPAS can reach an ultralow level of 2.79?×?10^?3 mN/m, which was lower than that found for the traditional surfactant heavy alkylbenzene sulfonate (HABS). The salinity and hardness tolerance of C₁₂-NPAS were much stronger than those found for conventional surfactants, petroleum sulfonate, and LAS. C₁₂-NPAS also shows improved wetting performance, foamability, and foam stability.     

Salinity Selection for a Low Salinity Water-Low Salinity Surfactant Process

A laboratory selection of salinity for a low salinity water-low salinity surfactant (LS-LSS) process is presented in this paper with systematical investigation on surfactant phase behavior, interfacial tension (IFT), and dynamic retention in porous media with IOS2024 and isoamyl alcohol (IAA) as surfactant system. The results show that 0.4 wt% IOS2024 with 1 wt% IAA can provide ultra-low IFT of 10^?3 mN/m at around 3000–4000 mg/L total dissolved solids, but at that salinity range the surfactant retention is very high. The search for an optimum surfactant formulation has to consider solution properties and retention in addition to the low IFT. The salinity for a LS-LSS process should thus not be focused on either optimal salinity or ultra-low IFT, but instead the best choice could be a compromise between the properties in question. The three-phase region, where ultra-low IFT are found, is also associated with high retention values. However, we show that as salinity is increased from a two-phase region with oil solubilized in a water continuous microemulsion, there is a region close to the three-phase boundary which has potential. This region does not give ultra-low, but fairly low (10^?2 mN/m in this case) interfacial tensions, and also significantly lower retention.      

Study on the Interfacial Tensions Between Oils and Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Gemini Surfactant Solutions

Interfacial tensions (IFT) of five alkylbenzene sulfonate Gemini surfactants Ia, Ib, Ic, Id, and Ie at different oils/water systems were measured by a spinning drop interfacial tensiometer. And critical micelle concentration (CMC), the interfacial tension at CMC (γ_CMC), maximum interfacial excess concentration (Γ _max) and the surface area per molecule (A_min) were calculated. The results indicated that the CMC values determined with interfacial tension method were lower than those determined with surface tension method. And γ_CMC for Ie is larger than that for Ia, Ib, Ic, and Id. In addition, the effects of temperature and hydrophobic chains on dynamic IFT were also studied. With the increment of temperature, dynamic IFT is easier to reach a stable value. However, with the increment of hydrophobic chains, dynamic IFT is more difficult to reach a stable value. Each Gemini surfactant produces a minimum IFT when measured against a different n-alkane.     

Influence of alkyl chain length of alpha olefin sulfonates on surface and interfacial properties

Alpha olefin sulfonates (AOS) with various alkyl chain lengths have been used to investigate the influence of alkyl chain length on the interfacial properties at air–water, liquid paraffin–water, and parafilm–water interfaces. It was found that the critical micelle concentration decreased with increasing alkyl chain length, while the efficiency of reducing surface tension was inverse relationship with alkyl chain length. The diffusion coefficient obviously reduced with an increase of surfactant concentration and alkyl chain length. The C_14-16AOS shows better wettability and emulsification than C_16-18AOS and C_20-24AOS. For foaming properties, the foamability and foam stability dramatically decreased with increasing alkyl chain length.     

高盐油藏下两性/阴离子表面活性剂协同获得油水超低界面张力

研究了在高盐油藏中, 利用两性/阴离子表面活性剂的协同效应获得油水超低界面张力的方法. 两性表面活性剂十六烷基磺基甜菜碱与高盐矿化水具有很好的相容性, 但在表面活性剂浓度为0.07%-0.39%(质量分数)范围内仅能使油水界面张力达到10^-2 mN·m^-1量级, 加入阴离子表面活性剂十二烷基硫酸钠后则可与原油达到超低界面张力. 通过探讨表面活性剂总浓度、金属离子浓度、复配比例对油水动态界面张力的影响, 发现两性/阴离子表面活性剂混合体系可以在高矿化度、低浓度和0.04%-0.37%的宽浓度范围下获得10^-5 mN·m^-1量级的超低界面张力, 并分析了两性/阴离子表面活性剂间协同获得超低界面张力的机制.     

Research and application of ultralow interfacial tension oil displacement agent

An ultralow interfacial tension (IFT) oil displacement agent, which was a surfactant combinational system (HCS) with good salt and heat resistance, was synthesized using amphoteric betaine (AMS)/anionic sulfonate (AKS)/nonionic alkyl amide (NIS). The interface tensiometer was used to test the IFT. The results showed that the oil–water IFT could be as low as 10^?4 mN/m when the salinity is 10,000～50,000?mg/L, the concentration is 1～5?g/L, and the temperature is 40～80°C. The surfactant system has good emulsification stability. The displacement simulation experiments demonstrated that the increment of the recovery ratio can be up to 14.1%. The surfactant system could meet the demands of site operation.     

Synthesis and properties of quaternary ammonium Gemini surfactants with hydroxyl groups

The article describes synthesis of four hydroxyethyl alkylene–double alkyl bromide through substitution of nucleophilic d iethanolamine, 1-bromododecane, and 1,4-dibromobutane. The structure of the new hydroxyl cationic surfactant (HDCS) was characterized by ¹H NMR and FTIR spectra. The aqueous solution of HDCS showed critical micelle concentration, i.e., 5.6 × 10^?2 mM, and could reduce oil/water interfacial tension to 3.28 × 10^?3 mN m^?1. The surface tension measurements provided a series of parameters, including critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at the CMC (γ_CMC), adsorption efficiency (pC₂₀), and effectiveness of surface tension reduction (Π_CMC). In addition, maximum surface excess concentration (Г_max) and minimum surface area/molecule (A_min) at the air/water interface were obtained by the Gibbs adsorption isotherm. The influence of inorganic salts (sodium chloride, calcium chloride) and organic salts (sodium benzoate) on the surface tension of HDCS in aqueous solution was investigated. For wettability alteration measurement, contact angle measurement as a quantitative method was utilized. Meanwhile, foam ability, foam stability, and emulsifying property of the synthesized surfactant were also examined at different concentration. HDCS also had excellent viscosity property.     

THE USE OF CARBOXYMETHYL ETHOXYLATE SURFACTANT TO DISSOLVE VITAMIN K1 AND TO OBTAIN LOW INTERFACIAL TENSION AND STABLE EMULSION SYSTEMS

Abstract

The presence of vitamin K₁ in human body is important for preventing the hemorrhagic disease. Due to its very long side chain, vitamin K₁ is highly insoluble in water. We have successfully dissolve a substantial amount of vitamin K₁ in solutions of a commercial surfactant containing carboxymethyl ethoxylates (Hüls B433) and obtained low interfacial tension (IFT) and stable emulsion systems. This paper will present the details of these experiments. The solubilization of vitamin K₁ was estimated from UV absorption. The IFT values were measured by using a spinning drop apparatus and all particle sizes were determined by using laser light scattering. By using the Hüls B433 surfactant and an optimum amount of CaCl₂, we can dissolve vitamin K₁ in water and obtain low IFT systems in the order of 10^?2 dyne/cm. The emulsions obtained in these systems are stable and contain droplet sizes below 65 nm. The dissolution of vitamin K₁ and the IFT behavior in these systems follow the rules for crude oil and prefer larger surfactant micelles.     

Phase Behavior of Microemulsions Formulated with Sodium Alkyl Polypropylene Oxide Sulfate and a Cationic Hydrotrope

The partial ternary phase diagram of anionic extended surfactant of alkyl polypropylene oxide sulfate C₁₂(PO)₄SO₄ alone and combined with the cationic hydrotrope, tetrabutyl ammonium bromide with water and decane were determined under ambient conditions. Middle phase microemulsion was formulated using salinity scans in the dilute region of surfactant/brine/decane. Visual inspection as well as cross polarizer and optical microscopy were used to detect anisotropy. Spinning drop tensiometer was used to measure interfacial tension (IFT). The first ternary phase diagram using the extended surfactant alone showed three one phase regions, the anisotropic lamellar liquid crystalline phase, L _α and the isotropic L₁ micellar liquid and L₃ sponge phase. In the second ternary phase diagram using the extended surfactant combined with tetra butyl ammonium bromide, an isotropic micellar region, L ₁, appeared in the diluted area of the phase diagram. Meanwhile the L _α phase disappeared completely and the three phase region has a bluish transparent middle phase. Interfacial tension measurements between middle phase and brine, and between decane and brine yielded ultra low values. Calculated IFT values using the characteristic length obtained using De Gennes approximation gave almost half the measured values. The interfacial rigidity was also calculated and compared to values obtained from the literature.     

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.     

Effects of additional salts on the interfacial tension of crude oil/zwitterionic gemini surfactant solutions

Zwitterionic gemini surfactants, which have the advantages of both zwitterionic and gemini surfactants, have been widely used in various disciplines. Sulfobetaine-type zwitterionic gemini surfactants consisting of 1,2-bis[N-methyl-N-(3-sulfopropyl)-alkylammonium]ethane (2C_nSb with 6, 8 and 10 carbon atoms) were evaluated for their interfacial activities at the water/crude oil interface. The 2C₁₀Sb molecules showed a remarkable ability to decrease the interface tension (IFT) of water/crude oil, and the degree of decrease was much greater than those in either zwitterionic or gemini surfactant systems by at least two orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the effects of salts (NaCl, CaCl₂, and MgCl₂) on the IFT of the 2C₁₀Sb system were thoroughly investigated. Interestingly, the delicate balance between the effects of additional cations and the intramolecular interactions of 2C₁₀Sb molecules played crucial roles in the interfacial arrangements of 2C₁₀Sb molecules, which were mainly dependent on the bonding abilities of the cations. Moreover, a zwitterionic surfactant and a cationic gemini surfactant were employed in control experiments to verify the proposed mechanisms.     

Influence of Gemini Surfactant with Modified TiO2 Nanoparticles on the Interfacial Tension of Oil/Water

The research on the impacts of modified TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) on interfacial tension (IFT) is in its infancy. Our work focuses on the IFT of the modified TiO₂ and Gemini surfactant N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-N,N′-dimyristyl-1,2-ethane diammonium dichlone (YND1233) complex solutions for reservoir stimulation purposes. The factors of YND1233, modified TiO₂ NPs, temperature, aging stability, adsorption loss, and mineralized degree were explored with the comparison of unmodified TiO₂ NPs and YND1233 as contrast samples. The results indicate that the dynamic IFTs decrease and then increase with the concentrations of YND1233 and modified TiO₂ NPs, and the minimum IFT appears at 0.200 and 0.010 wt%, respectively. YND1233/modified TiO₂ complex solutions show lower and more stable IFTs, better temperature resistance, longer aging time, and lower adsorption on the surface of quartz sand. The modified TiO₂ NPs and YND1233 in the YND1233/modified TiO₂ complex solution can be adsorbed to the interface and decrease the IFTs through synergistic effect. A mixed diffusion-kinetic mechanism is provided for the adsorption and interactions with Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ involved in YND1233/modified TiO₂ complex solution.     

Effects of a Novel Organic Alkali on the Interfacial Tension and Emulsification Behaviors Between Crude Oil and Water

Experiments have been carried out to investigate the interfacial tension (IFT) and emulsification behaviors between Shengli crude oil and a novel organic alkali (OA). The dynamic IFT and minimum IFT are adopted to characterize the IFT behaviors; the microscopic method, Turbiscan stability index, separated water rate, and laser particle size analysis method are used to show the emulsification behaviors. The dynamic and minimum IFT both decrease continuously with the increase of OA concentration whether surfactant is added or not; because of the synergy of OA and surfactant, the minimum IFT will be reduced to the ultralow value. The synergy is also crucial for the crude oil emulsification. When OA and surfactant are used together, owing to the mosaic and cross-multiple adsorption of OA, surfactant and in situ soap at the interfacial film, the oil can be emulsified more easily, the quantity of emulsified droplets is higher, and the emulsion is more stable with OA concentration increases. The relationship of the minimum IFT and emulsification is investigated; it indicates that the emulsion stability improves, the degree of dispersed homogeneity of oil droplets increases, and the median diameter of emulsified oil droplets decreases with the decline of the minimum IFT.     

Impairing effect of fibrinogen on the mono-/bi-layer form of bovine lung surfactant

Lung surfactant (LS), a lipid–protein mixture responsible for alveolar stability, is inhibited by serum proteins leaked into the lungs in disease. Interaction of bovine lipid extract surfactant (BLES), a clinical replacement lung surfactant, with serum protein fibrinogen (Fbg) was studied employing various structural and biophysical techniques in adsorbed films and bulk bilayer dispersions. Surface tension area isotherms of the adsorbed films revealed the suppression of interfacial activity of BLES by Fbg (adsorption and surface tension reduction). Fbg, predominantly associated with the fluid phase of BLES films, resulted in the aggregation of the gel lipid domains as evidenced by atomic force microscopy. BLES bilayer dispersion showed phase transition from a diffused gel to liquid–crystalline phase in the temperature range 10–35 °C as studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Fbg resulted in the shift of peak to a higher transition temperature for the maximal heat flow (T _max) of BLES dispersions. Combined Raman and FTIR spectral studies of the BLES/Fbg dispersions revealed that Fbg altered the –CH₂–, –CH₃, and –PO₄ ^? vibrational modes of the phospholipids present in BLES, suggesting the condensing and dehydrating effect of the protein on surfactant. Studies suggest that Fbg, by directly interacting with the gel lipids in LS in bulk dispersions, alter the packing of the films formed at the interface, and can be used as a specific model for lung disease.     

Surface activity of myristic acid in the poly(methyl methacrylate)/supercritical carbon dioxide system

To confirm the surface activity of myristic acid in the dispersion polymerization of vinyl monomers in scCO2, the interfacial tension (IFT) at the polymer/supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) interface has been measured. For the IFT measurements, a high-pressure pendant drop apparatus was constructed. The IFT data was obtained by the axisymmetric drop shape analysis of melt polymer droplets formed at the tip of a capillary. The reliability of the apparatus was confirmed by measuring the IFT of polystyrene (PS)/scCO2 and polypropylene (PP)/CO2 systems. The IFT of the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/scCO2 system with and without myristic acid was also measured. The IFT decreased on addition of myristic acid. The magnitude of the IFT depression due to the myristic acid was comparable to that of PS/scCO2 systems with the block copolymer surfactant, PS-b-poly(fluorooctyl acrylate). The surface activity of the myristic acid was confirmed by the decrease of IFT.     

CO2-triggered switchable Pickering emulsion stabilized by guanidine-functionalized silica particles

The guanidine group-modified silica particles were used as emulsifier to obtain a CO₂-responsive Pickering emulsion. To compare the wettability effect of the particles on the stability of the emulsion, both guanidine and alkyl chain were attached on the surface of silica particles. The influences of tension, particles concentration, oil-water fraction, NaCl concentration, and CO₂ on Pickering emulsion properties were investigated. Although the particles did not decrease the surface and interfacial tensions of the air/oil-water interfaces, they attached on the oil–water interfaces and stabilized the emulsions at room temperature for at least 4 weeks. Addition of salt increased the emulsion stability and induced phase inversion at high salt concentration. The stabilization–destabilization cycles of the emulsion could be successively controlled by alternative CO₂/heating triggers due to the protonation-deprotonation of guanidine groups on the particle surfaces.     

Mapping the Stability and Curvature of Emulsions of H2O and Supercritical CO2 with Interfacial Tension Measurements

The stability and curvature of emulsions of H₂O and CO₂ are reported and analyzed in terms of measurements of interfacial tension versus formulation variables, including salinity, CO₂ density, temperature and pH. Among the surfactants studied are, quaternary ammonium cationic ones with perfluoropolyether tails, block copolymer ionomers and a poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) with polydimethylsiloxane tails, and a nonionic ethylene oxide surfactant with a fluoroalkane tail. The interfacial tension measurements were made at surfactant concentrations from 0.05 to 1.0 wt% with a variable-volume pendant drop tensiometer up to 345 bar and 363°K. As a formulation variable was varied, the system reached a balanced state characterized by a minimum in interfacial tension, a loss in emulsion stability and in some cases an inversion from a W/C to C/W emulsion. Here the Marangoni-Gibbs stabilization weakens, and also it becomes easy to bend and rupture the surfactant monolayer, causing coalescence. Except in the case of the nonionic fluorinated surfactant C₈F₁₇—SO₂NEt-(CH₂CH₂O)_12–14CH₃, the crossover from the CO₂-continuous (W/C) to the H₂O-continuous (C/W) emulsion occurred abruptly due to clouding of the surfactant out of the CO₂ phase. For PFPE-TMAA, the plot of γ versus surfactant concentration revealed both pre-micellar aggregates and a critical micro emulsion, each of which was dependent on salinity.     

Synergistic improvement of foam stability with SiO2 nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) and different surfactants

Foam fluids are widely used in petroleum engineering, but long-standing foam stability problems have limited the effectiveness of their use. The study explores the synergistic effects and influencing factors of SiO₂ nanoparticles (SiO₂-NPs) with different wettability properties and three different surfactants. The paper investigates the foaming performance of different types of surfactants and analyzes and compares the stability of foam after adding hydrophilic and hydrophobic SiO₂-NPs from macroscopic as well as microscopic perspectives, and the effects of temperature and inorganic salts on the stability of mixed solutions. The experimental results show that: 1) hydrophilic nanoparticles can significantly enhance the foam stability of amphoteric surfactants, with a small increase in the foam stability of anionic and cationic surfactants; 2) The concentration of nanoparticles did not have a significant effect on the stability of the cationic surfactants and this conclusion was verified in the experimental results of the surface tension measured below;3) The cationic surfactants showed better temperature resistance at temperatures of 50–90 °C. Both amphoteric surfactant solutions with the addition of hydrophilic SiO₂-NPs or hydrophobic SiO₂-NPs significantly improved the temperature resistance of the foam at high temperatures. The anionic surfactant solution with hydrophobic SiO₂-NPs did not enhance the solution temperature resistance; 4) The surface tension of the surfactant solution gradually increases with increasing concentration of hydrophilic or hydrophobic SiO₂-NPs and then levels off; 5) the hydrophilic SiO₂-NPs had a significant effect on the salt tolerance of the anionic and amphoteric surfactant solutions. The salt tolerance of cationic surfactant solutions with hydrophobic SiO₂-NPs was better than that of surfactants with hydrophilic SiO₂-NPs.     

Model Compounds for Asphaltenes and C80 Isoprenoid Tetraacids. Part I: Synthesis and Interfacial Activities

Three model compounds for asphaltenes and two model compounds for the C₈₀ isoprenoid tetraacids (ARN) have been synthesized and their interfacial and solubility properties were investigated. All compounds exhibit high interfacial activities. The asphaltene models lowered the interfacial tension between toluene and pH 9 to around 5 mN/m at 12.5–35 μM and the tetraacid models gave a drop in the interfacial tension between chloroform and pH 9 to 13 mN/m at only 5 μM, which is consistent with previous findings for the natural occurring C₈₀ tetraacids. A sudden drop in the IFT over a very narrow concentration range was observed for two of three asphaltene models. NIR spectroscopy studies indicated an aggregation most likely a result of polar and hydrogen bond interactions. The IFT results also showed different behavior with only small changes in chemical structure. The tetraacid models have similar interfacial behavior as the C₈₀ tetraacids and will thus be suitable model compounds with their highly UV active and fluorescent properties.     

Silicon-modified carbohydrate surfactants. VII: Impact of different silicon substructures on the wetting behaviour of carbohydrate surfactants on low-energy surfaces — distance decay of donor–acceptor forces

The wetting behaviour of carbohydrate surfactants bearing siloxane, carbosilane, polysilane or silane moieties has been investigated. By static surface tension (γ_lv, σ) and wetting tension (γ_sv−γ_sl, α) measurements on a non-polar perfluorinated surface (FEP®), the contact angles of aqueous surfactant solutions above the critical micelle formation concentration (cmc) were determined. Surface tension and wetting tension react independently on defined changes in the chemical structure of the surfactant molecules. Siloxane surfactants reduce the surface tension most effectively, whereas for a neopentyl-substituted silane derivative the lowest solid/liquid interfacial tension was found. The data for isomeric siloxanes, carbosilanes and silanes suggest that donor–acceptor forces at solid interfaces have a maximum range of about 4.5 Å. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.