Home Physical Sciences Effect of amphiphilic nanoparticles and non-ionic surfactants on emulsion stability
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Effect of amphiphilic nanoparticles and non-ionic surfactants on emulsion stability

  • Yang Wang

    Yang Wang is a professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Xi’an Shiyou University. His research interests focus on enhanced recovery and oil recovery chemistry.

    EMAIL logo
    , Zijing Cui

    Zijing Cui is a postgraduate student at Xi’an Shiyou University. She is involved in the study of surfactants and enhanced oil and gas recovery.

    , Youlong Feng

    Youlong Feng is a postgraduate student at Xi’an Shiyou University. He is involved in the study of enhanced oil and gas recovery.

    , Long Li

    Long Li is a postgraduate student at Xi’an Shiyou University. He is involved in the study of oil and gas field chemistry.

    , Yujie Zhang and Le Guo
Published/Copyright: December 6, 2024
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Abstract

To investigate the effect of amphiphilic nanoparticles and nonionic surfactants on the stability of emulsions, SiO2 nanoparticles were first locally surface modified with organosiloxanes of different carbon chain lengths to prepare amphiphilic nanoparticles with different hydrophobic properties, and then the effects of surfactant type and concentration, interfacial tension and its composite system with the amphiphilic nanoparticles on the stability of emulsions was investigated. The experimental results demonstrate, the OP-50 exhibits the most effective emulsification properties at a concentration of 0.1 %. However, the emulsion stability is significantly compromised. The emulsification effect of OP-50 with amphiphilic nanoparticles at a concentration of 0.1 % remained unaltered, while the emulsion stability was markedly enhanced compared to that of a single system. The modulus of expansion of OP-50 was 11.8 mN m−1, while that of OP-50 compounded with C8-10:1 was 120 mN m−1. The incorporation of modified nanoparticles with varying lengths of carbon chains was shown to effectively enhance the modulus of expansion of the oil–water interfacial interface. The results of this study are informative for the application of oil repellents in the mechanism of enhanced recovery.


Corresponding author: Yang Wang, School of Xi’an Shiyou University, Xi’an 710000, Shanxi, China, E-mail:

Award Identifier / Grant number: 51934005

Award Identifier / Grant number: 52004218

Award Identifier / Grant number: 52174028

Award Identifier / Grant number: 52174031

Award Identifier / Grant number: 52374040

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2023-YBGY-155

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2024GX-YBXM-499

About the authors

Yang Wang

Yang Wang is a professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Xi’an Shiyou University. His research interests focus on enhanced recovery and oil recovery chemistry.

Zijing Cui

Zijing Cui is a postgraduate student at Xi’an Shiyou University. She is involved in the study of surfactants and enhanced oil and gas recovery.

Youlong Feng

Youlong Feng is a postgraduate student at Xi’an Shiyou University. He is involved in the study of enhanced oil and gas recovery.

Long Li

Long Li is a postgraduate student at Xi’an Shiyou University. He is involved in the study of oil and gas field chemistry.

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

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

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The author states no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China (52374040, 52004218, 51934005, 52174031, 52174028) and Shaanxi Provincial Key R and D Programme (2024GX-YBXM-499, 2023-YBGY-155).

  7. Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.

References

1. McClements, D. J.; Jafari, S. M. Improving Emulsion Formation, Stability and Performance Using Mixed Emulsifiers: A Review. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 2018, 251, 55–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2017.12.001.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

2. Kralova, I.; Sjöblom, J. Surfactants Used in Food Industry: A Review. J. Dispers. Sci. Technol. 2009, 30 (9), 1363–1383. https://doi.org/10.1080/01932690902735561.Search in Google Scholar

3. Zhang, L.; Zhang, G.; Ge, J.; Jiang, P.; Ding, L. pH-And Thermo-Responsive Pickering Emulsion Stabilized by Silica Nanoparticles and Conventional Nonionic Copolymer Surfactants. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 2022, 616, 129–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.067.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

4. Li, Z.; Fan, Q.; Yin, Y. Colloidal Self-Assembly Approaches to Smart Nanostructured Materials. Chem. Rev. 2021, 122 (5), 4976–5067. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00482.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

5. Darwish, M. S. A.; Stibor, I. Pentenoic Acid-Stabilized Magnetic Nanoparticles for Nanomedicine Applications. J. Dispers. Sci. Technol. 2016, 37 (12), 1793–1798. https://doi.org/10.1080/01932691.2016.1140584.Search in Google Scholar

6. Pang, X.; Wan, C.; Wang, M.; Lin, Z. Strictly Biphasic Soft and Hard Janus Structures: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications. Angew Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 2014, 53 (22), 5524–5538. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201309352.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

7. Marschelke, C.; Fery, A.; Synytska, A. Janus Particles: From Concepts to Environmentally Friendly Materials and Sustainable Applications. Colloid Polym. Sci. 2020, 298, 841–865. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-020-04601-y.Search in Google Scholar

8. Jin, W.; Yue, L. L.; Chi, S. M.; Yang, T.; Ruan, Q.; Zhu, H. Y.; Zhao, Y. pH-Responsive Supramolecular Nanoparticles Based on Sulfobutylether7-β-CD/cationic Surfactant and its Controllable Release of Doxorubicin. J. Dispers. Sci. Technol. 2021, 44 (7), 1116–1125. https://doi.org/10.1080/01932691.2021.2006685.Search in Google Scholar

9. Binks, B. P.; Fletcher, P. D. I. Particles Adsorbed at the Oil−Water Interface: A Theoretical Comparison between Spheres of Uniform Wettability and “Janus” Particles. Langmuir 2001, 17 (16), 4708–4710. https://doi.org/10.1021/la0103315.Search in Google Scholar

10. Bakshi, M. S. Iron Oxide Nanomaterials at Interfaces for Sustainable Environmental Applications. Acc. Mater. Res. 2024, 5 (8), 1000–1012. https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.4c00151.Search in Google Scholar

11. Luo, D.; Wang, F.; Zhu, J.; Cao, F.; Liu, Y.; Li, X.; Willson, R. C.; Yang, Z.; Chu, C. W.; Ren, Z. Nanofluid of Graphene-Based Amphiphilic Janus Nanosheets for Tertiary or Enhanced Oil Recovery: High Performance at Low Concentration. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2016, 113 (28), 7711–7716. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1608135113.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

12. Roh, K. H.; Martin, D.; Lahann, J. Biphasic Janus Particles with Nanoscale Anisotropy. Adv. Mater. 2005, 4, 759–763. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1486.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

13. Howse, J. R.; Jones, R. A. L.; Ryan, A. J.; Gough, T.; Vafabakhsh, R.; Golestanian, R. Self-motile Colloidal Particles: From Directed Propulsion to Random Walk. Phys. Rev. Lett. 2007, 99 (4), 048102. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.048102.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

14. Wang, G.; Wang, K.; Lu, C. Preparation and Property of Amphiphilic Silica Nanoparticles. Bull. Chin. Ceram. Soc. 2018, 39 (5), 160–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.127864.Search in Google Scholar

15. Arab, D.; Kantzas, A.; Bryant, S. L. Nanoparticle Stabilized Oil in Water Emulsions: A Critical Review. J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 2018, 163, 217–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2017.12.091.Search in Google Scholar

16. Vu, T. V.; Papavassiliou, D. V. Synergistic Effects of Surfactants and Heterogeneous Nanoparticles at Oil–Water Interface: Insights from Computations. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 2019, 553, 50–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2019.05.102.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

17. Jiang, X.; Liu, M.; Li, X.; Wang, L.; Liang, S.; Guo, X. Effects of Surfactant and Hydrophobic Nanoparticles on the Crude Oil–Water Interfacial Tension. Energies 2021, 14, 6234. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196234.Search in Google Scholar

18. Eskandar, N. G.; Simovic, S.; Prestidge, C. A. Synergistic Effect of Silica Nanoparticles and Charged Surfactants in the Formation and Stability of Submicron Oil-In-Water Emulsions. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2007, 9 (48), 6426–6434. https://doi.org/10.1039/B710256A.Search in Google Scholar

19. Almahfood, M.; Bai, B. The Synergistic Effects of Nanoparticle-Surfactant Nanofluids in EOR Applications. J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 2018, 171, 196–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2018.07.030.Search in Google Scholar

20. Ravera, F.; Dziza, K.; Santini, E.; Cristofolini, L.; Liggieri, L. Emulsification and Emulsion Stability: The Role of the Interfacial Properties. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 2021, 288, 102344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2020.102344.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

21. Alvarez, G.; Poteau, S.; Argillier, J. F.; Langevin, D.; Salager, J. L. Heavy Oil−Water Interfacial Properties and Emulsion Stability: Influence of Dilution. Energy Fuels 2009, 23 (1), 294–299; https://doi.org/10.1021/ef800545k. https://achs-prod.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ef800545k.Search in Google Scholar

22. Politova, N.; Tcholakova, S.; Denkov, N. D. Factors Affecting the Stability of Water–Oil–Water Emulsion Films. Colloids Surf. A Physicochem. Eng. Asp. 2017, 522, 608–620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2017.03.055.Search in Google Scholar

23. Wong, S. F.; Lim, J. S.; Dol, S. S. Crude Oil Emulsion: A Review on Formation, Classification and Stability of Water-In-Oil Emulsions. J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 2015, 135, 498–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2015.10.006.Search in Google Scholar

24. Powell, K. C.; Chauhan, A. Interfacial Tension and Surface Elasticity of Carbon Black (CB) Covered Oil–Water Interface. Langmuir 2014, 30 (41), 12287–12296. https://doi.org/10.1021/la503049m.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

25. Soleimani, H.; Baig, M. K.; Yahya, N.; Khodapanah, L.; Sabet, M.; Demiral, B. M. R.; Burda, M. Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles for Oil–Water Interfacial Tension Reduction in Enhanced Oil Recovery. Appl. Phys. A 2018, 124, 128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-017-1510-4.Search in Google Scholar

26. Panahpoori, D.; Revzani, H.; Parsaei, R.; Riazi, M. A Pore-Scale Study on Improving CTAB Foam Stability in Heavy Crude Oil−water System Using TiO2 Nanoparticles. J. Pet. Sci. Eng. 2019, 183, 106411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2019.106411.Search in Google Scholar

27. Pichot, R.; Spyropoulos, F.; Norton, I. T. Competitive Adsorption of Surfactants and Hydrophilic Silica Particles at the Oil–Water Interface: Interfacial Tension and Contact Angle Studies. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 2012, 377 (1), 396–405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2012.01.065.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

28. Biswal, N. R.; Rangera, N.; Singh, J. K. Effect of Different Surfactants on the Interfacial Behavior of the N-Hexane–Water System in the Presence of Silica Nanoparticles. J. Phys. Chem. B 2016, 120 (29), 7265–7274. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b03763.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

29. Nesterenko, A.; Drelich, A.; Lu, H.; Clausse Danièle, P. Influence of a Mixed Particle/surfactant Emulsifier System on Water-In-Oil Emulsion Stability. Colloids Surf. A Physicochem. Eng. Asp. 2014, 457, 49–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2014.05.044.Search in Google Scholar

30. Zhang, Q.; Guo, Z.; Yang, Y.; Li, Y.; Yang, C.; Li, W. The Impact of SiO2 Nanoparticles on the Dilational Viscoelastic Properties of Water-Nonionic Surfactant-Fuel Interface. Colloids Surf. A Physicochem. Eng. Asp. 2022, 643, 128757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.128757.Search in Google Scholar

31. Dockx, G.; Geisel, S.; Moore, D. G.; Koos, E.; Studart, A. R.; Vermant, J. Designer Liquid–Liquid Interfaces Made from Transient Double Emulsions. Nat. Commun. 2018, 9, 4763. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-07272-0.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Received: 2024-07-22
Accepted: 2024-11-06
Published Online: 2024-12-06
Published in Print: 2025-01-29

© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Downloaded on 8.1.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/tsd-2024-2617/html
Scroll to top button