Optimization of Dynamic Interfacial Tension for Crude Oil–Brine System in the Presence of Nonionic Surfactants

In this study, interfacial tension (IFT) is measured between brine and crude oil (a sample of heavy oil from an Iranian oil reservoir) in the presence of two nonionic surfactants, KEPS 80 (Tween 80) and Behamid D, at different concentrations in order to optimize the concentrations of the surfactants. The surface response method is used to design the IFT measurement experiments. The experimental design and optimization is performed using the IFT as an objective function and temperature, concentration, and time as independent variables. In addition to the IFT measurement, various experiments such as stability tests of the surfactants in NaCl brine solutions, adsorption experiments on the carbonated rock surface, and phase behavior tests are performed to investigate the behavior of KEPS 80 and Behamid D in the enhanced oil recovery process. At the end, a model using the response surface statistical technique is designed for optimization of the concentrations of the surfactants, and a surfactant molecular migration mechanism is used for explanation of the dynamic IFT variation versus time. In the case of IFT experiments, the effect of surfactant concentration (at 1000, 3000, and 5000 ppm) on the dynamic IFT is investigated. The experiments are performed at four temperatures (25, 40, 50, and 67°C). The results show that the oil–brine IFT values can be reduced to about 4 mN m⁻¹ in the presence of Behamid D and to about 1 mN m⁻¹ in the presence of KEPS 80 at low concentrations.     

Formulation of ultralow interfacial tension systems using extended surfactants

Inspired by the concept of lipophilic and hydrophilic linkers, extended surfactants have been proposed as highly desirable candidates for the formulation of microemulsions with high solubilization capacity and ultralow interfacial tension (IFT), especially for triglyceride oils. The defining characteristic of an extended surfactant is the presence of one or more intermediate-polarity groups between the hydrophilic head and the hydrophobic tail. Currently only limited information exists on extended surfactants; such knowledge is especially relevant for cleaning and separation applications where the cost of the surfactant and environmental regulations prohibit the use of concentrated surfactant solutions. In this work, we examine surfactant formulations for a wide range of oils using dilute solutions of the extended surfactant classes sodium alkyl polypropyleneoxide sulfate (R-(PO) _x −SO₄Na), and sodium alkyl polypropyleneoxide-polyethyleneoxide sulfate (R-(PO) _y -(EO) _z −SO₄Na). The IFT of these systems was measured as a function of electrolyte and surfactant concentration for polar and nonpolar oils. The results show that these extended surfactant systems have low critical micelle concentrations (CMC) and critical microemulsion concentrations (CμC) compared with other surfactants. We also found that the unique structure of these extended surfactants allows them to achieve ultralow IFT with a wide range of oils, including highly hydrophobic oils (e.g., hexadecane), triolein, and vegetable oils, using only ppm levels of these extended surfactants. It was also found that the introduction of additional PO and EO groups in the extended surfactant yielded lower IFT and lower optimum salinity, both of which are desirable in most formulations. Based on the optimum formulation conditions, it was found that the triolein sample used in these experiments behaved as a very polar oil, and all other vegetable oils displayed very hydrophobic behavior. This unexpected triolein behavior is suspected to be due to uncharacterized impurities in the triolein sample, and will be further evaluated in future research.     

Interfacial properties of cationic and anionic Gemini surfactant mixtures

The possibility and the prospect of cationic/anionic (“catanionic”) surfactant mixtures based on sulfonate Gemini surfactant (SGS) and bisquaternary ammonium salt (BQAS) in the field of enhanced oil recovery was investigated. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of SGS/BQAS surfactant mixtures was 5.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L, 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than neat BQAS or SGS. A solution of either neat SGS or BQAS, could not reach an ultra-low interfacial tension (IFT); but 1:1 mol/mol mixtures of SGS/BQAS reduced the IFT to 1.0 × 10⁻³ mN/m at 100 mg/L. For the studied surfactant concentrations, all mixtures exhibited the lowest IFT when the molar fraction of SGS among the surfactant equaled 0.5, indicating optimal conditions for interfacial activity. The IFT between the 1:1 mol/mol SGS/BQAS mixtures and crude oil decreased and then increased with the NaCl and CaCl₂ concentrations. When the total surfactant concentration was above 50 mg/L, the IFT of SGS/BQAS mixtures was below 0.01 mN/m at the studied NaCl concentrations. Adding inorganic salt reduced the charges of hydrophilic head groups, thereby making the interfacial arrangement more compact. At the NaCl concentration was above 40,000 mg/L, surfactant molecules moved from the liquid–liquid interface to the oil phase, thus resulting in low interfacial activity. In addition, inorganic salts decreased the attractive interactions of the SGS/BQAS micelles that form in water, decreasing the apparent hydrodynamic radius (D_{H, app}) of surfactant aggregates. When the total concentration of surfactants was above 50 mg/L, the IFT between the SGS/BQAS mixtures and crude oil decreased first and then increased with time. At different surfactant concentrations, the IFT of the SGS/BQAS mixtures attained the lowest values at different times. A high surfactant concentration helped surfactant molecules diffuse from the water phase to the interfacial layer, rapidly reducing the IFT. In conclusion, the cationic-anionic Gemini surfactant mixtures exhibit superior interfacial activity, which may promote the application of Gemini surfactant.     

十八烷基己基甲基羧基甜菜碱的合成及性能

以硬脂酸和己酸为原料合成了不对称双长链烷基羧基甜菜碱——十八烷基己基甲基羧基甜菜碱(C18+6B),测定了C18+6B的表面活性,并与总碳原子数相等的对称型双十二烷基甲基羧基甜菜碱(diC12B)进行比较,以了解表面活性剂分子结构对性能的影响。结果表明,C18+6B的表面活性与diC12B基本相当,但水溶性远好于diC12B。作为无碱驱油用表面活性剂,C18+6B对大庆原油来说HLB值略偏高,45 ℃ 下单独使用能将大庆原油/地层水界面张力降至10-2mN/m数量级,在大庆油砂上的饱和吸附量比diC12B低30%。C18+6B单独能将C7~C9正构烷烃/大庆地层水界面张力降至10-3mN/m数量级,而通过与亲油性更强的diC12B以及亲水性甜菜碱复配后,能将大庆原油/地层水界面张力降至10-3mN/m数量级,并能显著改善配方的水溶性。     

十八烷基己基甲基羧基甜菜碱的合成及性能

以硬脂酸和己酸为原料合成了不对称双长链烷基羧基甜菜碱——十八烷基己基甲基羧基甜菜碱(C18+6B),测定了C18+6B的表面活性,并与总碳原子数相等的对称型双十二烷基甲基羧基甜菜碱(di C12B)进行比较,以了解表面活性剂分子结构对性能的影响。结果表明,C18+6B的表面活性与di C12B基本相当,但水溶性远好于di C12B。作为无碱驱油用表面活性剂,C18+6B对大庆原油来说HLB值略偏高,45℃下单独使用能将大庆原油/地层水界面张力降至10-2m N/m数量级,在大庆油砂上的饱和吸附量比di C12B低30%。C18+6B单独能将C7~C9正构烷烃/大庆地层水界面张力降至10-3m N/m数量级,而通过与亲油性更强的di C12B以及亲水性甜菜碱复配后,能将大庆原油/地层水界面张力降至10-3m N/m数量级,并能显著改善配方的水溶性。     

Surface activity of mixtures of oxyethylated methyl dodecanoate and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate

Surface and interfacial tension and detergency of mixtures containing oxyethylated methyl dodecanoate and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate were determined. Synergism in the surface tension reduction was not observed. The competition for adsorption at the air/water interface between oxyethylated methyl dodecanoate and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate depended on the considered surface tension, the weight ratio of surfactants in the aqueous phase, and the hydrophile-lipophile balance of the nonionic surfactant. Generally, coverage of the interface with oxyethylated methyl dodecanoate increased when surface tension decreased. Nonionics were the dominant species at the interface in the important region of surface activity, i.e., for surface tensions below 40 mN m⁻¹. The mole fraction of the hydrophobic nonionic at the interface was higher than the contribution of hydrophilic oxyethylates. An increase of the surfactant ratio in the bulk phase affects the interfacial ratio of surfactants in the same way. The lowest interfacial tension (1.5 mN m⁻¹) at the hexadecane/water interface was observed for oxyethylated methyl dodecanoate having an average degree of oxyethylation equal to 8 and 10. Nearly 5 min was needed to achieve equilibrium value. Mixtures with sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate decreased the interfacial tension somewhat less efficiently but the equilibrium was rapidly established. The standard washing powders containing oxyethylated methyl dodecanoates exhibited washing ability similar to that obtained for the powder with traditional alcohol oxyethylate.     

Interfacial tension between aluminum and cryolite melts during electrolysis of the systems Na3AlF6–AlF3 (NaF)–Al2O3

The interfacial tension between aluminum and cryolite melts containing different salt additions has been measured by the capillary depression method. The technique is based on the measurement of the capillary depression occurring when the capillary, which is moved vertically down through the molten salt layer, passes through the salt/metal interface. The depression is measured by simultaneous video recording of the immersion height of the alumina capillary. The interfacial tension was found to be strongly dependent on the n(NaF)/n(AlF₃) ratio (cryolite ratio, CR). At the cryolite ratio 2.28 (80 wt.% Na₃AlF₆ + 10 wt.% AlF₃ + 10 wt.% Al₂O₃ // Al, t = 1000 °C) the interfacial tension was 546 mN m⁻¹, while it was 450 mN m⁻¹ at the cryolite ratio 4.43 (80 wt.% Na₃AlF₆ + 10 wt.% NaF + 10 wt.% Al₂O₃ // Al, t = 1000 °C). Experiments under current flow conditions were also performed. During the electrolysis the interfacial tension at n(NaF)/n(AlF₃) ratio 2.28 decreased from 546 mN m⁻¹ at zero current to 518 mN m⁻¹ at 0.112 A cm⁻². The same trend was observed in the system with a cryolite ratio 4.43. The interfacial tension decreased from 450 mN m⁻¹ at zero current to 400 mN m⁻¹ at 0.112 A cm⁻². The consequent increase in interfacial tension of these systems caused by interruption of electrolysis was observed. Electrolysis of the system 25 wt.% NaF + 75 wt.% NaCl (eutectic mixture)/Al indicated no influence of applied current on the interfacial tension at 850 °C.     

Dialkyl Sulfobetaine Surfactants Derived from Guerbet Alcohol Polyoxypropylene–Polyoxyethylene Ethers for SP Flooding of High Temperature and High Salinity Reservoirs

Dialkyl hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine (HSB) surfactants, C₁₆GA-(PO)₅-(EO)₃-HSB and C₂₄GA-(PO)₁₀-(EO)₁₀-HSB, were synthesized from Guerbet alcohols (GA) polyoxypropylene–polyoxyethylene (PO-EO) ethers and their behaviors in surfactant-polymer (SP) flooding of high temperature and high salinity reservoirs were examined and compared with their anionic hydroxypropyl sulfonate (HS) counterparts, C₁₆GA-(PO)₅-(EO)₃-HS and C₂₄GA-(PO)₁₀-(EO)₁₀-HS. The PO-EO chain embedded improves their aqueous solubility, and the sulfobetaines show better salt resistance than sulfonates. For a reservoir condition of total salinity 19,640 mg L⁻¹ and 60–80°C, C₁₆GA-(PO)₅-(EO)₃-HSB alone can reduce crude oil/connate water interfacial tension (IFT) to ultralow at 0.25–5 mM, which can be further widened to 0.1–5 mM by mixing with dodecylhexyl (C₁₂₊₆) glyceryl ether hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine (C₁₂₊₆GE-HSB), a slightly hydrophobic surfactant. C₂₄GA-(PO)₁₀-(EO)₁₀-HSB is more hydrophobic for the specified reservoir condition, however, by mixing with hexadecyl dimethyl hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine (C₁₆HSB), a hydrophilic surfactant, ultralow IFT can also be achieved at a total concentration of 0.25–5 mM. The anionic counterparts can also reduce IFT to ultralow by mixing with C₁₂₊₆GE-HSB and C₁₆HSB, respectively. Moreover, the optimum binary mixture, C₁₆GA-(PO)₅-(EO)₃-HSB/C₁₂₊₆GE-HSB at a molar fraction ratio of 0.6/0.4, can keep the negatively charged solid surface water-wet (θ_w = 12–23°) in a wide concentration range, and can still achieve ultralow IFT after stored at 90°C for 90 days (initially 5 mM), which overall are favor of improving oil displacement efficiency at high temperature and high salinity reservoir conditions.     

Novel Alkyl Ether Sulfonates for High Salinity Reservoir: Effect of Concentration on Transient Ultralow Interfacial Tension at the Oil–Water Interface

The effect of surfactant concentration on the occurrence and detection of transient ultralow interfacial tension (IFT) between crude oil and formation water at 75 °C has been investigated using a series of novel sodium alkyl ether sulfonates having various increasing molecular weights and degrees of ethoxylation. All surfactant systems displayed dynamic interfacial tension (DIT). Transient ultralow DIT (DIT_min) were detected only within an intermediate surfactant concentration. This behavior was attributed to an implicit concentration-related length scale required for the added surfactant to diffuse from the bulk phase to the freshly prepared oil–water interface. In the high surfactant concentration range, this length scale is relatively short and results in an instantaneous (and undetectable) occurrence of DIT_mim in a relatively very short time scale, well beyond the detection limit of the spinning drop tensiometer (~2–3 min). Interestingly, DIT_min were detected only in systems above the surfactant’s critical micelle concentration, suggesting that DIT_min occurs as a result of the diffusion (subsequent to the adsorption) of the oil acidic species from the interface to the bulk phase to form mixed micelles with the added surfactant. Measurements of DITs in the presence of decane showed no evidence for DIT_min, confirming the general belief that DIT_min is indeed due to the interaction of the added surfactant with the oil acidic components. Finally, the effect of surfactant concentration on the equilibrium IFT (γ_eq) showed evidence for relatively low values (~10⁻² mNm⁻¹) for some surfactant systems.     

Preparation and Characterization of an Anionic Gemini Surfactant for Enhanced Oil Recovery in a Hypersaline Reservoir

A new type of anionic Gemini surfactant (AGS) was designed and prepared by a simple, low–cost, and green method, and its properties were characterized. The results showed that the values of parameters such as critical micelle concentration (CMC) value, Γmax, Amin, and pC20 of AGS were 0.10 mmol L⁻¹, 1.62 mmol m⁻², 1.02 nm², and 4.60, respectively, indicating that AGS is highly surface active. AGS has a very good synergistic effect with lauryl diethanol amide (6501), and the mixture surfactant 6501DA (composed of AGS and 6501 with a mass ratio of 1:2.5) has good wetting and emulsifying ability of the crude oil and good resistance to calcium and magnesium ions. In the temperature range from 50 to 70 °C, salinity of 20,000–50,000 mg L⁻¹ of the simulated formation water, and dosage of 6501DA from 500 to 3000 mg L⁻¹, all the interfacial tension (IFT) values between the 6501DA solution and Bamianhe crude oil were lower than 10⁻² mN m⁻¹, and all the adsorption amounts of oil sand to 6501DA in solution were less than 2 mg g⁻¹, indicating that AGS has potential for application in EOR in a hypersaline reservoir.     

Viscoelastic Surfactants with High Salt Tolerance,Fast‐Dissolving Property,and Ultralow Interfacial Tension for Chemical Flooding in Offshore Oilfields

Injected chemical flooding systems with high salinity tolerance and fast‐dissolving performance are specially required for enhancing oil recovery in offshore oilfields. In this work, a new type of viscoelastic‐surfactant (VES) solution, which meets these criteria, was prepared by simply mixing the zwitterionic surfactant N‐hexadecyl‐N,N‐dimethyl‐3‐ammonio‐1‐propane sulfonate (HDPS) or N‐octyldecyl‐N,N‐dimethyl‐3‐ammonio‐1‐propane sulfonate (ODPS) with anionic surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Various properties of the surfactant system, including viscoelasticity, dissolution properties, reduction of oil/water interfacial tension (IFT), and oil‐displacement efficiency of the mixed surfactant system, have been studied systematically. A rheology study proves that at high salinity, 0.73 wt.% HDPS/SDS‐ and 0.39 wt.% ODPS/SDS‐mixed surfactant systems formed worm‐like micelles with viscosity reaching 42.3 and 23.8 mPa s at a shear rate of 6 s^?1, respectively. Additionally, the HDPS/SDS and ODPS/SDS surfactant mixtures also exhibit a fast‐dissolving property (dissolution time <25 min) in brine. More importantly, those surfactant mixtures can significantly reduce the IFT of oil–water interfaces. As an example, the minimum of dynamic‐IFT (IFT_min) could reach 1.17 × 10^?2 mN m^?1 between the Bohai Oilfield crude oil and 0.39 wt.% ODPS/SDS solution. Another interesting finding is that polyelectrolytes such as sodium of polyepoxysuccinic acid can be used as a regulator for adjusting IFT_min to an ultralow level (<10^?2 mN m^?1). Taking advantage of the mobility control and reducing the oil/water IFT of those surfactant mixtures, the VES flooding demonstrates excellent oil‐displacement efficiency, which is close to that of polymer/surfactant flooding or polymer/surfactant/alkali flooding. Our work provides a new type of VES flooding system with excellent performances for chemical flooding in offshore oilfields.     

驱油用表面活性剂AF性能评价及驱油效果研究

评价了脂肪酸烷醇酰胺表面活性剂AF的界面张力和乳化性能,利用岩心驱替实验对其提高采收率效果进行了研究。结果表明,在模拟地层水的矿化度为5 119.63 mg/L时,AF浓度为0.2%～1.2%,其界面张力均能达到超低值;NaCl浓度为0.4%～2%,AF有效浓度为0.3%～0.6%时,体系的界面张力均能达到10-3mN/m数量级。AF具有较好的乳化原油的能力,在浓度为0.5%时,形成的O/W乳状液的稳定性最强,液滴粒径最小。岩心驱替实验表明,AF表面活性剂可在水驱基础上提高原油采收率20%以上,提高采收率效果明显,具有良好的应用前景。     

Characterizations of surfactant synthesized from Jatropha oil and its application in enhanced oil recovery

Surfactants are frequently used in chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) as it reduces the interfacial tension (IFT) to an ultra‐low value and also alter the wettability of oil‐wet rock, which are important mechanisms for EOR. However, most of the commercial surfactants used in chemical EOR are very expensive. In view of that an attempt has been made to synthesis an anionic surfactant from non‐edible Jatropha oil for its application in EOR. Synthesized surfactant was characterized by FTIR, NMR, dynamic light scattering, thermogravimeter analyser, FESEM, and EDX analysis. Thermal degradability study of the surfactant shows no significant loss till the conventional reservoir temperature. The ability of the surfactant for its use in chemical EOR has been tested by measuring its physicochemical properties, viz., reduction of surface tension, IFT and wettability alteration. The surfactant solution shows a surface tension value of 31.6 mN/m at its critical micelle concentration (CMC). An ultra‐low IFT of 0.0917 mN/m is obtained at CMC of surfactant solution, which is further reduced to 0.00108 mN/m at optimum salinity. The synthesized surfactant alters the oil‐wet quartz surface to water‐wet which favors enhanced recovery of oil. Flooding experiments were conducted with surfactant slugs with different concentrations. Encouraging results with additional recovery more than 25% of original oil in place above the conventional water flooding have been observed. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 2731–2741, 2017     

Synthesis and performance of surfactants based on epoxidized methyl oleate and glycerol

A small series of surfactants based on methyl oleate and glyceroe was synthesized. The synthesis utilizes an epoxidation reaction of methyl oleate followed by a simple esterification. The resultant products have between two and seven glyceride units, and their performance properties, including aqueous surface tensions and dynamic aqueous surface tensions, were studied. The droplet size of soybean oil/water emulsions made with each surfactant was also studied. The surfactants show properties similar to alcohol ethoxylates, such as the reduction of aquous surface tension to ∼34 mN m⁻¹. Additionally, because the synthesis leaves the epoxide functionality in the surfactant, further modification for performance optimization is possible.     

Preparation and Performance Evaluation of Fatty Amine Polyoxyethylene Ether Diethyl Disulfonate for Enhanced Oil Recovery in High‐Temperature and High‐Salinity Reservoirs

To enhance oil recovery in high‐temperature and high‐salinity reservoirs, a novel fatty amine polyoxyethylene ether diethyl disulfonate (FPDD) surfactant with excellent interfacial properties was synthesized. The interfacial tension (IFT) and contact angle at high temperature and high salinity were systematically investigated using an interface tension meter and a contact angle meter. According to the experimental results, the IFT between crude oil and high‐salinity brine water could reach an ultra‐low value of 10^?3 mN m^?1 without the aid of extra alkali at 90°C after aging. The FPDD surfactant has strong wettability alternation ability that shifts wettability from oil‐wet to water‐wet. The FPDD surfactant with a high concentration also has good emulsion ability under high‐temperature and high‐salinity conditions. Through this research work, we expect to fill the lack of surfactants for high‐temperature and high‐salinity reservoirs and broaden its great potential application area in enhanced oil recovery.     

Use of mixed surfactants to improve the transient interfacial tension behaviour of heavy oil/alkaline systems

The objective of this study was to identify suitable combinations of additives to aqueous alkaline formulations for the potential recovery of Saskatchewan heavy crude oil. A previously developed strategy was applied to screen various additive combinations consisting of three commercial petroleum sulfonate surfactants and two commercial lignosulfonate surfactants. The selection of the additives was based on a large number of physical and interfacial property measurements in conjunction with phase stability tests at different temperatures. The resulting ternary formulations, labelled here as Mixed-Surfactant-Enhanced Alkaline (MSEA) systems, were very successful in reversing the trend of increasing interfacial tension with time that characterizes additive-free alkaline/crude oil systems. This success came at the expense of initial IFT values that were considerably higher than those exhibited by the corresponding additive-free alkaline solutions. However, at higher temperatures (65 °C), these ternary MSEA formulations were capable of generating very low IFT values against the crude oil (in the range of 5 × 10^?2 to 10^?1 mN/m), which suggests that they could be suitable candidates for commercial exploitation of heavy oil recovery processes.     

二元复合驱表面活性剂界面张力研究

研究了二元驱用植物改性羧酸盐表面活性剂SNHD与原油间的动态界面张力,并探讨了聚合物、矿化度、pH值以及时间对界面张力的影响。结果表明SNHD与原油的界面张力能达到超低值;聚合物对界面张力影响不大;矿化度对低活性剂浓度体系界面张力的影响较大,随矿化度增加,界面张力减小;体系的最佳pH值约为7。     

The effect of mixed surfactants on enhancing oil recovery

Micelles composed of mixed surfactants with different structures (mixed micelles) are of great theoretical and industrial interest. This work pertains tomaximizing interfacial tension (IFT) reduction via surfactant pairs. In this respect, four types of fatty acid amides based on lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acids were blended with dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid at a molar ratio of 4∶1 and designated as A₁, A₂, A₃, and A₄, respectively. The IFT was measured for each blend at different concentrations using Badri crude oil. The most potent formula (A₄) was evaluated for using in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The IFT was tested in the presence of different electrolyte concentrations with different crude oils at different temperatures. Finally several runs were devoted to study the displacement of Badri crude oil by A₄ surfactant solution using different slug sizes of 10, 20, and 40% of pore volume (PV). The study reveled that Badri crude oil gave ultra-low IFT at lowest surfactant concentration and 0.5% of NaCl. The recovery factor at a slug size of 20% PV was 83% of original oil in place compared with 59% in case of conventional water flood.     

Synthesis of an Alkyl Polyoxyethylene Ether Sulfonate Surfactant and Its Application in Surfactant Flooding

Surfactant flooding as a potential enhanced oil‐recovery technology in a high‐temperature and high‐salinity oil reservoir after water flooding has attracted extensive attention. In this study, the synthesis of an alkyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sulfonate surfactant (C₁₂EO₇S) with dodecyl alcohol polyoxyethylene ether and sodium 2‐chloroethanesulfonate monohydrate, and its adaptability in surfactant flooding were investigated. The fundamental parameters of C₁₂EO₇S were obtained via surface tension measurement. And the ability to reduce oil–water interfacial tension (IFT), wettability alteration, emulsification, and adsorption was determined. The results illustrated that IFT could be reduced to 10^?3 mN m^?1 at high temperature and high salinity without additional additives, and C₁₂EO₇S exhibited benign wettability alternate ability, and emulsifying ability. Furthermore, the oil‐displacement experiments showed that C₁₂EO₇S solution could remarkably enhance oil recovery by 16.19% without adding any additives.     

Salt-Induced Constructions of Gemini-like Surfactants at the Interface and Their Effects on the Interfacial Tension of a Water/Model Oil System

It is an urgent issue to enhance oil recovery for unconventional reservoirs with high salinity. Focused on this topic, salt addition is a powerful tool to motivate the surfactant assembly at the water/oil interface and improve the interfacial activity. We used a cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and an anionic salt dicarboxylic acid sodium (CnDNa) to construct gemini-like surfactants at the interface and evaluated their ability to reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) between model oil (toluene and n-decane, v:v = 1:1) and water. Interestingly, the fabrication of a (CTAB)₂/C4DNa gemini-like surfactant was hardly achieved at the fresh water/model oil interface, but accomplished at the brine/model oil interface. At a high NaCl concentration (100,000 mg L⁻¹), the IFT value is reduced to 10⁻³ mN m⁻¹ order of magnitude, which is generally desired in practical applications. The control experiments displacing the surfactant type and the spacer length further confirmed the NaCl effects on the interfacial assembly.