New nanotechnology-based approaches are increasingly being investigated for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), with a particular focus on heavy oil reservoirs. Typically, the addition of a polymer to an injection fluid advances the sweep efficiency and mobility ratio of the fluid and leads to a higher crude oil recovery rate. However, harsh reservoir conditions, including high formation salinity and temperature, can limit the performance of such polymer fluids. Recently, nanofluids, that is, dispersions of nanoparticles (NPs) in a base fluid, have been recommended as EOR fluids; however, such nanofluids are unstable, even under ambient conditions. In this work, a combination of ZrO2 NPs and the polyacrylamide (PAM) polymer (ZrO2 NPs–PAM) was used to formulate a novel nanopolymer injection solution for EOR applications to overcome the limitations of simple PAM solutions by the in situ reservoir conditions including high temperature and salinity. A series of measurements were comprehended at controlled pH values to measure the stability and rheological properties of NPs–PAM combinations at different temperatures, salinities, NP concentrations, and shear rates. It is depicted from the results that a higher salinity decreased the viscosity of the polymer formulation. However, ZrO2 NPs–PAM combinations reduced the effect of increased salinity on viscosity, which is essential for EOR applications. Furthermore, at low and medium shear rates, which are more relevant to the flow scenarios in oil reservoirs, ZrO2 NPs–PAM exhibited a higher viscosity than the PAM solution at the same pH and salinity. In contrast, at higher shear rates, the viscosity of ZrO2 NPs–PAM was less than that of the sole PAM solution. Mechanistically, an increased shear rate endorsed the adsorption of polymer molecules onto the surface of NPs, foremost to a lesser polymer concentration in the solution. Moreover, although ZrO2 nanodispersion was unstable at all NPs and salt concentrations, ZrO2 NPs–PAM was stable over an extensive range of salinities and temperatures. The results suggested that ZrO2 NPs–PAM is more suitable than the sole polymer or NP solutions for EOR projects.
The products of composites material are very sesetive to many variables, such as manufacturing process, additive materials, …. etc. Filler or additive plays a major role to determine the formation of the properties and behavior of the composites. In this study, polyethylene terephthalate-based compounds were produced and characterized. The work is concerned to prepare samples of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) - zinc-ferrite (ZnFe2O4) with different addition ratio as zinc-ferrite (1, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20) wt% obtained from mixing the solution with a hot pressing method applied under optimum conditions. The densities of the composites for all samples were calculated. Through the work the diffusion of zinc-ferrite i
... Show MoreGiven the paucity and toxicity of available drugs for leishmaniasis, coupled with the advent of drug resistance, the discovery of new therapies for this neglected tropical disease is recognised as being of the utmost urgency. As such antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been proposed as promising compounds against the causative Leishmania species, insect vector-borne protozoan parasites. Here the AMP temporins A, B and 1Sa have been synthesised and screened for activity against Leishmania mexicana insect stage promastigotes and mammalian stage amastigotes, a significant cause of human cutaneous disease. In contrast to previous studies with other species the activity of these AMPs against L. mexicana amastigotes was low. This suggests that ama
... Show MoreOily wastewater is one of the most challenging streams to deal with especially if the oil exists in emulsified form. In this study, electrospinning method was used to prepare nanofiberous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes and study their performance in oil removal. Graphene particles were embedded in the electrospun PVDF membrane to enhance the efficiency of the membranes. The prepared membranes were characterized using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to verify the graphene stabilization on the surface of the membrane homogeneously; while FTIR was used to detect the functional groups on the membrane surface. The membrane wettability was assessed by measuring the contact angle. The PVDF and PVDF / Graphene membranes efficiency
... Show MoreNanocrystalline TiO 2 and CuO doped TiO 2 thin films were successfully deposited on suitably cleaned glass substrate at constant room temperature and different concentrations of CuO (0.05,0.1,0.15,0.2) wt% using pulse laser deposition(PLD) technique at a constant deposition parameter such as : (pulse Nd:YAG laser with λ=1064 nm, constant energy 800 mJ, with repetition rate 6 Hz and No. of pulse (500). The films were annealed at different annealing temperatures 423K and 523 K. The effect of annealing on the morphological and electrical properties was studied. Surface morphology of the thin films has been studied by using atomic force microscopes which showed that the films have good crystalline and homogeneous surface. The Root M
... Show MoreNanoparticles have gained considerable interest in recent times for oil recovery purposes owing to significant capabilities in wettability alteration of reservoir rocks. Wettability is a key factor controlling displacement efficiency and ultimate recovery of oil. The present study investigates the influence of zirconium (IV) oxide (ZrO2) and nickel (II) oxide (NiO) nanoparticles on the wetting preference of fractured (oil-wet) limestone formations. Wettability was assessed through SEM, AFM and contact angle. The potentials of the nanoparticles to alter oil-wet calcite substrates water wet, was experimentally tested at low nanoparticle concentrations (0.004–0.05 wt%). Quite similar behaviour was observed for both nanoparticles at the same
... Show MoreIn this research, a low cost, portable, disposable, environment friendly and an easy to use lab-on-paper platform sensor was made. The sensor was constructed using a mixture of Rhodamine-6G and gold nanoparticles also Sodium chloride salt. Drop–casting method was utilized as a technique to make a platform which is a commercial office paper. A substrate was characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-visible spectrophotometer and Raman Spectrometer. Rh-6G Raman signal was enhanced based on Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy technique utilized gold nanoparticles. High Enhancement factor of Plasmonic commercial office paper reaches up to 0.9 x105 because of local surface pl
... Show MoreA polycrystalline CdTefilms have been prepared by thermal evaporation technique on glass substrate at room temperature. The films thickness was about700±50 nm. Some of these films were annealed at 573 K for different duration times (60, 120 and 180 minutes), and other CdTe films followed by a layer of CdCl2 which has been deposited on them, and then the prepared CdTe films with CdCl2 layer have been annealed for the same conditions. The structures of CdTe films without and with CdCl2 layer have been investigated by X-ray diffraction. The as prepared and annealed films without and with CdCl2 layer were polycrystalline structure with preferred orientation at (111) plane. The better structural pr
... Show MoreIn this research prepared two composite materials , the first prepared from unsaturated polyester resin (UP) , which is a matrix , and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) , and the second prepared from unsaturated polyester resin and aluminum oxide and copper oxide (CuO) , the two composites materials (Alone and Hybrid) of percentage weight (5,10,15)% . All samples were prepared by hand layup process, and study the electrical and thermal conductivity. The results showed decrease electrical conductivity from (10 - 2.39) ×10-15 for (Up+ Al2O3) and from (10 - 2.06)×10-15 for (Up+ Al2O3+ CuO) .But increase thermal conductivity from( 0.17 - 0.505) for (Up+ Al2O3) and from (0.17 - 0.489) for (Up+ Al2O3+ CuO).