Development of a novel biosurfactant for enhanced oil recovery and its influence on the rheological properties of polymer

Abstract

Surfactant plays a major role in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). However, most of the commonly-used surfactants are toxic, non-biodegradable, and can adsorb on the surface of the porous rocks. This work is focused on the development of an alternative sustainable biosurfactant derived from the weed Eichhornia crassipes and its utilization in EOR. The surfactant has been characterized by the FTIR, GC–MS, 1H NMR, FESEM, and FETEM analyses. The surface and interfacial tension have been measured. The influence of the synthesized surfactant on the rheological properties of xanthan gum has been studied and compared with that of a commercially used surfactant (i.e., sodium dodecyl sulfate). An effective improvement in the rheological properties and stability against heat and salinity suggest its potential application in EOR.