摘要
Rising global energy demand has encouraged engineers to create and design new methods to improve oil recovery from reservoirs.In this study,feasibility of using Henna extract as a natural surfactant and synthesized nanoparticles(Titanium dioxide(TiO2),Silicon dioxide(SiO2),Graphene and composite of TiO2-Graphene)for reduction of oil-water interfacial tension has been experimentally investigated.Nanoparticles were synthesized via sol-gel method and XRD,FESEM,EDAX and FTIR tests were conducted to confirm the authenticity of this synthesizing materials.Nano-surfactants were stabled with a natural water-based suspending surfactant called Tragacanth extract,which could be introduced as a practical substitute for industrial nanoparticles'stabilizers in oil industry.After CMC determination of Henna extract surfactant,the optimal concentration of Tragacanth extract surfactant,with the purpose of nano-surfactants’stabilization,was determined through particle size and zeta potential tests.Results of interfacial tension(IFT)measurements showed that the increase of Henna extract concentration from 0 wt%to 10 wt%reduced IFT between kerosene and water from 37.23 to 15.24 mN/m.Furthermore,adding 1 wt%of synthesized TiO2 nanoparticle to the Henna extract surfactant at its CMC value reduced IFT from 18.43 to 14.57 mN/m.As an impact of this significant reduction in IFT value,oil recovery factor could be improved drastically during EOR operations.Results proved that TiO2 nano-surfactant was as effective as industrial surfactants,which put human's and environment's health at risk and impose heavy economic strain on governments.
