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Oligomeric cationic Gemini surfactants: synthesis, surface activities and rheological properties as thickener

  • Ming Zhou

    Ming Zhou received his B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the Southwest Petroleum University in Chengdu of the PR China and worked at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a research chemist in 2002. He is a professor at the State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation. His research field is oil-field chemicals.

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    , Xinyi Deng

    Xinyi Deng studied at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a doctoral student (2020 Grade). She is majoring in materials and chemicals.

    , Yiping Chen

    Yiping Chen studied at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a graduate student (2017 Grade). She is majoring in materials engineering.

    , Yaxiong Zhao

    Yaxiong Zhao studied at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a graduate student (2020 Grade). He is majoring in materials and chemicals.

    , Ruifeng Ni

    Ruifeng Ni studied at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a graduate student (2020 Grade). He is majoring in materials science and engineering.

    and Jiangyu Huang

    Jiangyu Huang studied at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a graduate student (2020 Grade). He is majoring in materials science and engineering.

Published/Copyright: September 22, 2022
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Abstract

In this study, three oligomeric cationic Gemini surfactants (Ⅲ1, Ⅲ2, and Ⅲ3) were prepared from different major raw materials, including long-chain alkyl amine (dodecyl amine, tetradecyl amine or cetyl amine), formic acid, formaldehyde, diethyl amine hydrochloride and epichlorohydrin. The synthesis conditions for one of the three surfactants, bis-[2-hydroxy-3-(N,N-dimethyl-N-dodecyl)propyl]dipropylammonium chloride (Ⅲ1), were optimised by orthogonal experiments. The optimum synthesis conditions were: molar ratio of intermediate Ⅱ to intermediate Ⅰ1 = 1.0:2.2, reaction temperature = 85 °C and reaction time = 16 h. The structures of the three prepared compounds were characterised by FTIR and 1H NMR. Their thermal properties were evaluated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The Geminisurfactants prepared exhibited better surface active properties than conventional single chain cationic surfactants. With increasing carbon chain length from C12 to C16, both CMC and surface tension γCMC decreased, while the viscosity of the thickening solution prepared with the synthesised oligomeric cationic Gemini surfactants as the main component increased. The optimum thickening formula was: 2.0 wt% Ⅲ3 + 0.8 wt% sodium salicylate (NaSal) + 0.6 wt% KCl. The viscosity of the optimum thickening formulation was 190.4 mPa s. Gemini oligomeric cationic surfactants could be used as thickeners in the production of fracturing fluids, flooding agents and drilling fluids for oil and gas production in oil fields.


Corresponding author: Dr. Ming Zhou, State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, China; School of New Energy and Materials, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, China, E-mail:

About the authors

Ming Zhou

Ming Zhou received his B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the Southwest Petroleum University in Chengdu of the PR China and worked at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a research chemist in 2002. He is a professor at the State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation. His research field is oil-field chemicals.

Xinyi Deng

Xinyi Deng studied at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a doctoral student (2020 Grade). She is majoring in materials and chemicals.

Yiping Chen

Yiping Chen studied at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a graduate student (2017 Grade). She is majoring in materials engineering.

Yaxiong Zhao

Yaxiong Zhao studied at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a graduate student (2020 Grade). He is majoring in materials and chemicals.

Ruifeng Ni

Ruifeng Ni studied at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a graduate student (2020 Grade). He is majoring in materials science and engineering.

Jiangyu Huang

Jiangyu Huang studied at the School of New Energy and Materials at Southwest Petroleum University as a graduate student (2020 Grade). He is majoring in materials science and engineering.

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: This research is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Projects No. 51074133), Project of State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation (Projects No. PLN201807 and 201930), and Major Frontier Projects of Application Foundation in Sichuan Province (Projects No. 2019YJ0421).

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

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Received: 2022-04-05
Accepted: 2022-06-24
Published Online: 2022-09-22
Published in Print: 2022-11-25

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