Polymer-Functionalized Nanoparticles for Improving Oil Displacement

MARTINS ALHO, MIRIAM; JACOBO, SILVIA; FOSSATI, ANA

Advances in Natural Sciences: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

IOP Publishing

Año: 2018

This work focuses on the synthesis, functionalization, and characterization of magneticnanoparticles to be used for improving the oil recovery in the oil exploitation industry. In thismanuscript we explore three different types of hydrophobic/hydrophilic functionalizationthrough a silanized particle: with styrene, with acrylic acid and with a copolymer of styreneand maleic acid. Further application of such nanoparticles dispersions (nanofluid) arediscussed as the wetting and spreading behaviour of liquids on the solid surfaces change ifthe wettability of solid surface is altered. In order to investigate the influence of wettabilityalternation on enhancing oil recovery after nanofluid treatment, flushing oil experiment andcontact angle measurement were conducted in our laboratory. The results indicated thatnanofluid can produce a better flushing efficiency compared with brine solution, and thecontact angles of oil phase increased from 13° to 37° after nanofluid treatment (0.005% w/w).We focus on the synthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles considering recoveringpossibility.