A new thermal-tolerant bio-based zwitterionic surfactant for enhanced oil recovery

Abstract

Bio-based surfactants are increasingly important as an alternative to traditional petro-based surfactants owing to their renewable feedstocks and various applications in many industrial fields such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In this study, a new bio-based zwitterionic surfactant with a strong interfacial activity at high temperatures of up to 120°C was developed through the modification of methyl oleate derived from renewable non-edible oils. The synthetic route was optimized to promote the conversion rate of quaternization by precisely controlling and timely monitoring the residues of intermediates, and the interfacial activity of the final product was greatly improved after the optimization. This work consolidated the authors’ hypothesis that the removal of the residual intermediates of amidation and promotion of the conversion rate of quaternization certainly contribute to enhancing the interfacial activity of the final product, and it will facilitate the design of a sustainable alternative to petro-based chemicals used in EOR.