Novel polyethylene glycol-based cationic Gemini surfactants for enhancing oil displacement efficiency of silica nanoparticles fluids
Lu X. Zheng Y. Zhang G. You F.
25 November 2025Korean Society of Industrial Engineering Chemistry
Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
2025#151692 - 699 pp.
Although silica nanoparticles (NPs) have demonstrated potential for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), their individual application faces significant limitations including poor dispersion stability and elevated interfacial tension. A polyethylene glycol-bridged Gemini surfactant was synthesized and evaluated for its interfacial and emulsifying properties, with particular emphasis on its ability to enhance the oil displacement efficiency of NPs. FTIR and 1H NMR characterization confirmed the successful synthesis of the novel Gemini surfactants (PEGnC). The results demonstrated an inverse correlation between critical micelle concentration (CMC) and spacer molecular weight, while interfacial activity was enhanced with increasing brine salinity. PEG6C (600 Da spacer) exhibited superior performance, achieving ultra-low interfacial tension (10−2-10−3 mN/m) at 15–25 % NaCl concentrations while demonstrating optimal interfacial activity and emulsification capacity. The optimal PEG6C surfactant was subsequently combined with NPs to formulate a stable nanocomposite fluid, which maintained low viscosity and turbidity while achieving significantly reduced interfacial tension, indicating excellent dispersion stability and interfacial activity. The addition of PEG6C to NPs fluids could significantly improve the oil recovery efficiency of NPs fluids from 11.82 % to 30.66 %. This work establishes a promising strategy for combining Gemini surfactants with NPs to develop high-performance EOR systems.
Enhanced oil recovery , Gemini surfactant , Interfacial tension , Silica nanoparticles
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College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Yangtze University, Hubei, Jingzhou, 434023, China
Oil and Gas Technology Research Institute, Changqing Oilfield Branch, Shanxi, Xian, 710018, China
Kazakh-British Technology University, Almaty, 050000, Kazakhstan
College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering
Oil and Gas Technology Research Institute
Kazakh-British Technology University
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
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