Comparative effect of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles on the adsorption properties of surfactant-rock system: Equilibrium and thermodynamic analysis

Abstract

Recently, application of mixed system of zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ) nanoparticles and surfactants for improving hydrocarbon recovery through oil-water interfacial tension reduction and rock-surface wettability modification has received significant attention. However, application of ZrO 2 nanoparticles for minimizing the adsorption and loss of surfactant molecules onto rock surfaces is yet to be thought-out. In this research, influence of ZrO 2 nanoparticles on the static adsorption of Triton X-100 (TX-100) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) onto the surface of an adsorbent, with significant presence of positive and negative charges, was investigated through UV–Vis spectrophotometry method at different temperature. Adsorption behaviors were characterized via equilibrium and thermodynamic analysis. Adsorbent and adsorbate characterizations were conducted through Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) visualization, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electrokinetic study. The effectiveness of ZrO 2 nanoparticles in reducing surfactant adsorption was then compared with the performance of SiO 2 nanoparticles. The adsorption isotherm data analysis demonstrated that the highest values of correlation coefficient (R 2 ) and least error values were obtained using Langmuir isotherm model. Results showed that equilibrium adsorption of ZrO 2 -surfactant and SiO 2 -surfactant solutions onto the adsorbent surface is best fitted with the Langmuir model, suggesting the feasibility of monolayer coverage of nanoparticles-surfactants solutions onto the rock surfaces. The amount of surfactant adsorbed reduced in presence of nanoparticles and at elevated temperature. The ZrO 2 nanoparticles demonstrated significantly high capacity to decrease the extent of surfactant adsorption onto the adsorbent surface more than nanosilica. Precisely, at 303 K, the maximum adsorption capacity of TX100 considerably reduced from 2.216 mg/g to 1.250 mg/g (43.59%) and 0.767 mg/g (65.39%) in presence of SiO 2 and ZrO 2 nanoparticles. Likewise, the SDBS optimum adsorption capacity decreased from 0.466 to 0.316 mg/g (32.19%) and 0.048 mg/g (89.70%) in presence of SiO 2 and ZrO 2 nanoparticles respectively at 333 K. The study suggests that ZrO 2 nanoparticles are more promising nanomaterials for reducing the adsorption of surfactant onto rock surfaces, due to electrostatic repulsion between charged nano-surfactant complex and rock charged sites, as well as higher competition for the surfactant molecules. • Impact of ZrO 2 nanoparticles on surfactant adsorption behaviors onto rock surfaces was studied. • Performance of ZrO 2 nanoparticles was compared with SiO 2 nanoparticles. • Equilibrium adsorption of ZrO 2 -surfactant solutions was best fitted with the Langmuir model. • ZrO 2 nanoparticles are more effective for reducing adsorption process compared to nanosilica. • Higher absolute value of zeta potential and smaller nanoaggregates was formed by ZrO 2 particles.