Amount Of Surfactant Research Articles

A Review on Progressive Trends in Pharmaceutical Nano Emulsions and their Assessment

This review aimed to deliver the progressive trends and need for research activities in the area of liquid bi-phasic systems i.e., Nano emulsion (NE). These categories of drug delivery system (DDS) are progressive modes for providing and increasing the bioavailability of non-aqueous drugs and the drug which have increased the first-pass metabolism. The NE's can be framed by either high or low energy techniques. High-pressure homogenization, micro fluidization, and ultra-sonication are involved in High energy techniques whereas the phase inversion emulsion forming method and the self-NE method are involved in low energy techniques. High energy techniques are having lower usage when compared to low energy techniques due to their high consumption of energy, hence low energy techniques are more operative and do not need any sophisticated devices. Even though high energy techniques are more suitable for food-grade emulsion as they need a reduced amount of surfactant than low energy techniques. Methods for formulation of NE DDS are overlying in nature, exclusively in the process of low energy techniques. This review gives the eminence of NE'S by comparing previous research carried over it.

Formulation of oily tocotrienols as a solid self-emulsifying dosage form for improved oral bioavailability in human subjects

Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) have been shown to enhance the water-solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble compound. Solid SEDDS (s-SEDDS) address the stability and compatibility issues associated with conventional liquid SEDDS, but have limitations including the use high amounts of surfactants and complex processes resulting in low final drug loading and poor powder flow. The aim of the present study was to formulate a solid dosage form containing 100 mg tocotrienols using the optimized s-SEDDS powder we developed with tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) as the model liquid active substance via a simple adsorption method. The s-SEDDS granules formulated via wet-granulation with PVP K30 showed excellent flow properties, retained good emulsification efficiency, with submicron emulsion droplet size and dissolution profile of 75–100%. The oral bioavailability evaluated in human subjects showed that of the s-SEDDS capsules was comparable absorption to that of the commercial liquid self-emulsifying product Tocovid Suprabio™, which demonstrated enhanced tocotrienols’ bioavailability by 3-fold compared to that of an oily non self-emulsifying preparation. In conclusion, the bioavailability of tocotrienols from the s-SEDDS was encouraging and can be a promising alternative and a convenient solid dosage form that can significantly enhance the oral bioavailability of the tocotrienols.

Studies on the interactions of tiny amounts of common ionic surfactants with unsaturated phosphocholine lipid model membranes

In order to provide the fundamental information about the interactions of common anionic surfactants with the basic unsaturated phospholipids the influence of three cationic (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, DTAB; tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide, TTAB and hexadecyltrimethylamonium bromide, CTAB) and one anionic (sodium dodecylsulfate, SDS) surfactants on the properties of the 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) layers was investigated. The studies proved that a tiny amount of the ionic surfactant added to the already synthesized liposome suspension is sufficient to change the zeta potential of the POPC and DOPC liposomes significantly. This impact increases with the surfactant concentration, the alkyl chain length of the surfactant and the degree of lipid saturation. Moreover, this effect is greater for the anionic surfactant than for the cationic one of the same alkyl chain length. The observed findings were confirmed in the course of the research carried out with the use of the corresponding Langmuir monolayers where the surface pressure – mean area isotherms, the compressibility modulus – surface pressure dependences, the monolayer penetration tests, the surface potential – mean molecular area isotherms and Brewster angle microscopy were discussed. It was found that the presence of the surfactants shifts the isotherms towards larger molecular area, to the higher extent for the SDS than DTAB. This effect increases with the increasing surfactant concentration in the subphase. Moreover, the investigated surfactants remain in the monolayer even at high surface pressure. Nevertheless, no effect on the morphology of the POPC and DOPC monolayers was detected from the BAM images. The surface potential and surface charge of the liposomes calculated on the basis of the zeta potential results reflected the interactions between the surfactant and the lipid layers.

Enhancing Boiling Heat Transfer on a Superheated Surface by Surfactant-Laden Droplets.

Boiling, one of the most common phase-change heat transfer methods, is widely used in nuclear power plants, spacecraft, integrated circuits, and other situations, where rapid and efficient heat transfer is crucial. However, boiling heat transfer is efficient only in a specific surface temperature range when a droplet impacts a superheated surface. Here, we enhance the boiling heat transfer and extend this temperature range by adding a tiny amount of surfactant. We find that surfactants can weaken the Kelvin effect of boiling bubbles, and thus reduce the onset of boiling driven temperature and significantly enhance the maximum vaporization rate of the droplet effectively. In particular, different from previous studies, we find that the surfactants at lower concentrations can increase the Leidenfrost temperature of the droplets. All the above effects jointly expand the temperature range of effective boiling heat transfer. This study sheds new light on the role of surfactants in the boiling process and offers a new medium to promote heat-transfer applications.

A novel deuterium-based model for measurement of exogenous surfactant using deuterium-depleted water.

Stable isotope tracers, like 13 C, can be used for the measurement of the partition between the endogenous and exogenous pulmonary disaturated-phosphatidylcholine (DSPC). Deuterium labeling methods are still not fully explored. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of using deuterium-depletedwater (DDW) and deuterium-enriched water (DEW) to measure endogenous and exogenous pulmonary DSPC in a rabbit model of surfactant depletion. Data obtained from the 13 C dilution method were used as a reference. We studied 9 adult rabbits: 4 drank DDW and 5 DEW for 5 days. Lung surfactant depletion was induced at Day 5 by repeated saline bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL), which were stored as a pool (BAL pool). After endogenous surfactant depletion, rabbits received exogenous surfactant followed by a second BAL depletion procedure (End-Experiment Pool). DSPC quantity, and palmitic acid (PA)-DSPC 2 H/1 H (δ2 H) and 13 C/12 C ratios (δ13 C) of exogenous surfactant batches and of BAL pools were measured by High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. The amount of exogenous surfactant recovered from the lungs ranged from 45% to 81% and, it was highly correlated with those obtained with the use of the 13 C (r = 0.9844, p < 0.0001). We demonstrated that commercially available purified DDW and even low doses of DEW can be used to modify the deuterium background of endogenous surfactants with the purpose of measuring the contribution of exogenous surfactants to the endogenous alveolar surfactant pool.

Formulation, characterization and in-vitro evaluation of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system containing rhamnolipid biosurfactant

Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) are most commonly used lipid-based drug delivery systems for bioavailability enhancement. Mostly SNEDDS contains high concentrations of synthetic surfactants which may result in gastric irritation and cause toxicity. In this study, Rhamnolipid, a biosurfactant, is utilized as a cosurfactant to minimize the quantity of synthetic surfactant in SNEDDS formulation. Two sets of SNEDDS formulations comprising of medium-chain (MC) or long-chain (LC) glycerides, Kolliphor ® RH40 (KOL) and Rhamnolipid (RL) were produced using a D-optimal design in MODDE software. The monodispersed SNEDDS preconcentrates were further characterized by utilizing dynamic light scattering (at pH 2.5 & 6.5), cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, thermodynamic stability, in-vitro lipid digestion, and viscosity measurements. All MC-SNEDDS preconcentrates were not homogenous and considered unstable, while LC-SNEDDS were homogenous and produced nanoemulsions with droplet sizes ranging from 21 to 336 nm. LC-SNEDDS formulations containing RL produced smaller droplet sizes when dispersed in simulated intestinal media while droplet size slightly increased in the simulated gastric fluid which suggested that RL reduces droplet size more efficiently at higher pH. The zeta potential of nanoemulsion produced by dispersion of LC-SNEDDS containing RL was decreased at low pH. Thermodynamic stability studies have shown that all selected preconcentrates were stable. During in vitro lipolysis, only 24–34% of formulations were enzymatically digested, and at higher concentrations of RL, low number of fatty acids was released. Based on the results of dynamic viscosity studies, all the formulations showed non-Newtonian properties and were suitable for the capsule filling process. During cytotoxicity studies, LC-SNEDDS formulation and RL cosurfactant were well-tolerable at doses normally administered to human. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that LC-SNEDDS comprising RL as cosurfactant are favorable formulations when reduction in the amount of synthetic surfactant is desirable and RL also possibly helps to alter the digestion rate.

Stabilization of Aqueous MMA Emulsions Using Mixtures of Surfactants and Implications on MMA Miniemulsion Polymerizations

AbstractMiniemulsion polymerization is a robust and simple method for manufacture of polymer nanoparticles. However, it is strongly dependent on the precursor monomer‐in‐water emulsion stability. Thus, the present study investigates the influence of concentration and combination of nonionic surfactants (resulting in different hydrophile–lipophile balances, HLB) on the stabilization of emulsions of methyl methacrylate in water. Backscattering profiles obtained with Turbiscan show that a combination of Tween80 and Span80 can grant the desired initial system stabilization, although the optimum HLB values depend on the amount of surfactant mixture. Miniemulsion polymerizations are then successfully performed with nonionic surfactant mixtures, providing high monomer conversion in less than 1 h and poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles with average diameters ranging from 300 to 500 nm. Finally, it is observed that the addition of small amounts of an anionic surfactant to the surfactant mixture (10 wt.%) can be very beneficial for the process, allowing the control of reaction rates, the production of smaller nanoparticles with average diameters from 100 to 300 nm, and the enhanced stabilization of the final solid dispersion, while simultaneously keeping the concentration of ionic surfactants small.

Nanocellulose-based nanogels for sustained drug delivery: Preparation, characterization and in vitro evaluation

Polysaccharide-based nanocarriers such as nanogels have recently received considerable attention in modified drug delivery due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the application of the nanocarriers was limited due to longer preparation time, usage of large amounts of organic solvents and surfactants as well as lower drug loading capacity (LC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE). In this study, nanogels were prepared from carboxymethyl nanocellulose (CMNC)-lysozyme blends in aqueous phase via electrostatic interaction, a simple and surfactant-free approach, for sustaining drug release with better LC and EE. The nanogels were investigated in terms of size, polydispersity index (PDI), turbidity, colloidal and thermal stabilities, chemical functionality, morphology, crystallinity, LC, EE, and in vitro release patterns of different Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) class drugs (acyclovir, carbamazepine, and furosemide). At pH 7.4 and above, nanogels remained in collapse state through strong electrostatic interaction between the polyelectrolytes, followed by the intramolecular H-bonding for further reduction of the size of the nanogels. Spherical nanogels in the size of <110 nm with PDI <0.2, and large zeta potential ranging from −38 to −55 mV were prepared at optimal condition (at 1:1 wt ratio of CMNC:lysozyme, heating temperature and time: 75 °C and 30 min, pH 7.4). The size and PDI of the nanogels were significantly affected by the weight ratios of CMNC-lysozyme, pH, sonication and heating times (p < 0.01), but not much affected by drug loading and storage conditions. The nanogels demonstrated high EE (62–94%) and LC (18–27%), and sustained release (48–80%) profiles of the model drugs over 12 h. These results suggest that the synthesized nanocellulose-based nanogels following easy and green preparation approach exhibited attractive properties with respect to the size, PDI, zeta potential, shape, thermal stability, EE, LC, and versatility for encapsulating and sustaining different BCS class drugs.

Non-enzymatic glycation enhances anionic surfactant induced aggregation and amyloidogenesis

• Glycated albumin is more prone to SDS-induced aggregation than non-glycated albumin. • Glycated albumin solubilized at lower SDS concentration than non-glycated albumin. • Glycated albumin lost secondary structure at lower SDS concentration. Diabetes prevails worldwide in all age groups, and the number is expected to increase to 366 million in 2030. The non-enzymatic glycation enhanced many folds in diabetic conditions. Moreover, non-enzymatic glycation worsens the disease complications and makes health management difficult. In earlier studies, anionic surfactants were found to induce aggregation and amyloid formation by interacting with the protonated basic residues of the proteins. Interestingly, basic residues are also primary glycation sites. Therefore, the number of unmodified Lys and Arg residues in the glycated proteins will be lesser than in the non-glycated protein. Consequently, a lower amount of anionic surfactants is required to neutralize the glycated proteins charges and thus for aggregation and amyloid formation. Therefore, the mechanism of anionic surfactant-induced aggregation and amyloid formation of glycated protein should be different. Our results showed that glycated BSA tends to aggregate at 10-fold lower SDS concentrations than non-glycated BSA. Interestingly, the aggregates of glycated BSA also solubilize similar to non-glycated BSA. Due to the reduced threshold of anionic surfactant-induced aggregation in the glycated proteins, they become more prone to aggregation.

Formulation Development and Optimization of Blonanserin Liquid SMEDDS using D-Optimal Mixture Design

Background: Blonanserin is an atypical antipsychotic potent antagonist of dopamine-D2 and D3 receptors with low aqueous solubility BCS class II drugs. Objective: The present research aims to develop and optimize the Blonanserin-loaded liquid selfmicro emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) to improve its in vitro drug release by D-optimal mixture design. Methods: Saturation solubility of Blonanserin was checked in various oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants. The pseudo-ternary phase diagram was developed to identify the region of the microemulsion. Trial batches were designed to determine dependent and independent variables in the formulation. DOptimal Mixture design applies for optimization and minimized trials. The amount of oil(X1), surfactant( X2), and co-surfactant(X3) were selected as independent variables, and solubility(Y1) and in vitro percentage cumulative drug release(Y2) and size of globule(Y3) after 250 times dilution were selected as the dependant variable. The level of the independent variables in the design will be selected based on the drug's phase diagram, trial batches, and solubility. The developed SMEDDS was then evaluated for globule size, transparency, self-emulsification time, in vitro dissolution, and relative dissolution of the final formulation with marketed products and a pure drug. Results: BLN shows the highest solubility in (1:1) Captex 200P: Capmul MCM (oil), Tween 20 (surfactant), and Ethanol (cosurfactant). Trial batches were shown at 1:9, 2:8, and 3:7 oil to surfactant and cosurfactant ratios suitable for optimization. Optimization using a D-optimal mixture design gives 11 run batches and the resulting surface and contour plot suggest the best design space. The optimized formula given by the mixture design of the target formulation had maximum drug solubility, maximum drug release, and minimum globule size. Optimized formula containing Blonanserin, Captex 200P: Capmul MCM (1:1) Mixture (23% v/v), Tween 80 (57% v/v), and Ethanol (20% v/v) having 94.72% in vitro diffusion within 30 min with 21 nm globule size. Optimized liquid SMEDDS have a higher in-vitro diffusion rate than marketed products and pure drugs. Conclusion: Blonanserin liquid SMEDDS was successfully developed with high solubility, nanoglobule size, and improvement in in-vitro diffusion rate and vice versa for improvement in bioavailability of the drug.

Enhanced oil recovery by sacrificing polyelectrolyte to reduce surfactant adsorption: A classical density functional theory study

During the process of chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR), surfactants are widely used as they can reduce interfacial tension and change surface wettability, but the huge economic losses caused by the adsorption of surfactants on rock surface need to be resolved. Therefore, polyelectrolyte is introduced to reduce the adsorption amount of surfactant. However, how to select appropriate polyelectrolyte suitable for different reservoirs is always lack of theoretical guidance. Herein, the competitive adsorption mechanism between surfactant and polyelectrolyte on rock surface is studied by classical density functional theory (CDFT). Having investigated the effects of different polyelectrolytes on the adsorption of surfactants, the optimal polyelectrolyte concentration and chain length suitable for different potentials were found. Also, the influence of rock crevices width on displacement effect was considered. Moreover, we proposed a comprehensive evaluation of polyelectrolytes in terms of both the performance and economy. The findings of this study benefit for further understanding of the competitive adsorption in CEOR, and provide guidance for the practical application of polyelectrolytes.

Magnetic solid-phase extraction based on benzalkonium chloride-coated Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles for spectrophotometric determination of ritodrine hydrochloride and salbutamol sulfate in water and urine samples

A simple, fast, and cost-efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) based on benzalkonium chloride-coated Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2@BZC MNPs) was developed for extraction and pre-concentration of ritodrine hydrochloride (RET) and salbutamol sulfate (SAL) after derivatization with a diazotized drug as a reagent. RET was coupled with diazotized metoclopramide (DMC) under an oxidative coupling reaction in alkaline media and an orange azo dye (λmax = 470 nm) was produced. Another orange azo dye (λmax = 457 nm) was produced from coupling of SAL with diazotized sulfadiazine (DSZ). The extraction conditions such as pH of the solution, amount of surfactant, reagent, and sorbent, sample volume, and extraction time were optimized. The developed extraction technique provided a pre-concentration factor of 25 and 50 for RET and SAL, respectively. The extraction process was followed by spectrophotometric determination of the target analytes. The linear ranges were achieved as 0.1–6 and 0.05–5 µg/mL, and detection limits were obtained as 0.04 and 0.02 µg/mL for RET and SAL, respectively. This method was successfully employed for the pre-concentration and detection of RET and SAL in water and urine samples.

The journey of tuning chitosan properties in colloidal systems: Interactions with surfactants in the bulk and on the alumina surface

The specific physico-chemical properties of chitosan (Ch), a biopolymer isolated from chitin, and its impact on the stability of colloidal dispersity have focused the interest of science and industry. However, in some cases chitosan alone is not enough to provide high stability to dispersions, making it necessary to add surfactant to the chitosan/oxide system, leading to superior stabilizing properties due to the association of polymer and surfactant molecules to form complexes that can modify the ability of bare chitosan for adsorbing on colloidal materials. This study explores the interactions between chitosan and alumina in the presence of three different anionic surfactants: the hydrocarbon SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), the fluorocarbon FS-91 (Capstone® FS-91), and the silicone A-Si (Silphos A-100). Different analytical methods evidenced chitosan adsorption on the alumina surface, forming hybrid organic–inorganic materials. This process can be enhanced by adding surfactant, with SDS leading to a strong increase of chitosan adsorption. Elemental mapping and scanning electron microscope imaging have provided a confirmation of the co-adsorption of polymer and surfactant on the alumina surface. The latter emerges as a very important finding because the results have shown that small quantities of surfactant (as low as 0.002% v/v) can strongly influence the adsorption and stability of multicomponent colloidal systems. This allows decreasing the chitosan amount required for the enhancement of the colloidal stability in relation to dispersions without added surfactants, providing the basis for reducing the production costs of colloidal dispersion, which opens new opportunities to chemical industry.

Corn Husk as Anionic Surfactant Biosorbent in Detergent Waste

Corn Husk contains cellulose which has potential to become a biosorbent of anionic surfactant. This research aimed to know the optimum mass of corn husk biosorbent to reduce the amount of anionic surfactant in detergent waste and knew the characteristic of the biosorbent pores by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). This research used activation method by using NaOH 5 % for 90 minutes, and used mass variation 28 gr, 32 gr, 36 gr. The amount of anionic surfactant was determined with MBAS method. The result of SEM showed that the diameter of the biosorbent pores got larger after being activated from 2.12 nm to 3.41 nm. This experiment showed that activation had removed lignin which was bound to cellulose. The optimum mass of biosorbent was 32 gr which had reduced the amount of anionic surfactant from 92.8 mg/l to 77.9 mg/l with maximum adsorption capacity 0.1862 mg/g.

Liquid-Phase Synthesis of Nano-Zinc Oxide and Its Photocatalytic Property.

To solve the problem of liquid-phase synthesis of nano-ZnO, a photocatalytic performance study was proposed. In this study, the microwave homogeneous precipitation method was used to add different types and amounts of surfactants. The synthesis of nano-zinc oxide was controlled by changing the reaction system conditions. The photocatalytic properties of nano-zinc oxide for degrading three water-soluble dyes were preliminarily studied and discussed. The results show that the photocatalytic performance of nano-ZnO is closely related to its size, morphology, specific surface area, and even crystallographic direction.

Reproduction of Fine Details and Compatibility of Vinyl Polysiloxane Impression Materials

The purpose of this study was to develop novel experimental (Exp) vinyl polysiloxane (VPS) impression materials (ab initio) and to evaluate their reproduction of fine details and compatibility with pouring materials. The Exp materials were compared with three commercial VPSs (Aquasil Ultra Monophase (Aq M), Extrude Medium-Bodied (Extr M), Elite HD Monophase (Elt M)) under dry, moist and wet conditions. Five VPSs (Exp-I–V) were developed, out of which Exp-I and II were hydrophobic while Exp-III, IV and V were hydrophilic. In the current study, Exp-II is the control for Exp-III, IV and V. Exp-I was the control for Exp-II, in which tear strength of the VPS was improved by adding a novel cross-linking agent. This part of the study has already been published by the authors. Under dry conditions, all commercial and Exp materials reproduced the 20 µm line satisfactorily. Under moist conditions, all commercial and some of the Exp (III, IV and V) materials reproduced the 20 µm line satisfactorily, with the exception of Exp-I and II. Under wet conditions, Aq M, Extr M and Exp-IV and V reproduced the continuous line, while Elt M and Exp-I, II and III failed to produce the line. For compatibility, all commercial and Exp VPSs, under dry conditions, reproduced the 50 µm line on the cast. Under moist conditions, Elt M and Exp-I and II did not record the line, while Aq M, Extr M and Exp-III, IV and V reproduced this line. Under wet conditions, Aq M, Extr M and Exp-IV and V reproduced the continuous line of 50 µm, while Elt M and Exp-I, II and III failed to record this line. Performance of the materials depends on the type and amount of surfactant incorporated. These data provide useful knowledge for clinicians on recording and pouring impressions with greater accuracy of reproduction of fine details and compatibility with cast/die materials.

Formulation and evaluation of microemulsion containing ketoprofen

Ketoprofen microemulsion is presently considered as the novel drug delivery system. It shows prolonged action. Ketoprofen is a BCS II class drug. It is a highly lipophilic poorly soluble drug with low oral bioavailability. The present aim was to increase the solubility by a microemulsion system for topical delivery. Microemulsions are clear, stable and isotropic liquid. They show advantages such as spontaneous preparation, scale up, ease of preparation, improving drug solubility of hydrophobic drugs. It is also used to increase the bioavailability of drug. These also aim at controlling the bioavailability of various drug molecules. The review put forward the development in a microemulsion-containing system. They improve solubility, chemical stability and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. There is a formulation of four different batches. The batches differ in the quantity of surfactant and co-surfactants.

Polystyrene Macroporous Magnetic Nanocomposites Synthesized through Deep Eutectic Solvent-in-Oil High Internal Phase Emulsions and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Oil Sorption.

In this work, we report a nonaqueous one-step method to synthesize polystyrene macroporous magnetic nanocomposites through high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) formulated with the deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of urea:choline chloride (U:ChCl, in a 2:1 molar ratio) as the internal phase and co-stabilized with mixtures of Span 60 surfactant and non-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs). The porous structure and the magnetic and lipophilic properties of the nanocomposite materials were easily tailored by varying the amount of Fe3O4 NPs (0, 2, 5 and 10 wt %) and the surfactant Span 60 (0, 5, 10, and 20 wt %) used in the precursor emulsion. The resultant nanocomposite polyHIPEs exhibit high sorption capacity toward different oils (hexane, gasoline, and vegetable oil) due to their high porosity, interconnectivity, and hydrophobic surface. It was observed that the oil sorption capacity was improved when the amount of surfactant decreased and Fe3O4 NPs increased in HIPE formulation. Therefore, polyHIPE formulated with 5 and 10 wt % Span 60 and Fe3O4 NPs, respectively, showed the highest oil sorption capacities of 4.151, 3.556, and 3.266 g g–1 for gasoline, hexane, and vegetable oil, respectively. In addition, the magnetic monoliths were reused for more than ten sorption/desorption cycles without losing their oil sorption capacity.

Evaluation of Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles as an Additive to Minimize Surfactant Loss during Chemical Flooding

AbstractSurfactant flooding is a prolific enhanced oil recovery technique. It alters the rock fluid interfacial interactions between reservoir fluids and rocks. However, a pair of impeding factors often limit the economic viability of the process and need to be optimized. The first is the surfactant loss on the adsorbent surface due to adsorption making it a potential environmental problem. The second is the Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) which governs the amount of surfactant pumped. This study aimed to minimize the surfactant loss and the CMC, thereby optimizing the flooding efficiency and reducing the environmental concerns for nanoparticle applications. To achieve this, Silicon Carbide nanoparticles (SCN) were employed as additives to the surfactant solution. It was observed that the use of SCN reduces the surfactant adsorption by as much as 44 % and the critical micelle concentration by 14 %. The studies also observed that the concentration of SCN required to get these results is dramatically (more than 25 times) lower than previously reported literature on other nanoparticles. To adsorption isotherm studies provide an insight into the type of adsorption taking place. The adsorption isotherm follows the Langmuir model.

Experimental evaluation of the surfactant adsorptions performance on coal particles with different properties

The prevalence of Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis (CWP) increased with the increasing coal production. Currently, water spray is a commonly used method to control coal dust in underground coal mines. However, coal dust is well known for its hydrophobic property. Due to this, it is challenging in underground mines to suppress coal dust concentration to regulatory limits, thus, thousands of miners are under the threat of CWP caused by the high coal dust concentration. Surfactants aid water spray are believed an effective method to lower coal dust concentration. In this study, zeta potential and adsorption of three types of surfactants on coal particles with different ranks and particle sizes were studied. It was confirmed that the coal surface was negatively charged and the zeta potential of coal particles was changed based on the addition of surfactant type. In SDBS and CTAB, the lower rank coal particles showed lower zeta potential and the finer coal particles possessed the larger zeta potential, while opposite results were found in TX100. The lignite adsorbed more SDBS and less TX100 than subbituminous and anthracite, but anthracite adsorbed the most amount CTAB at a higher concentration. The finer coal particles adsorbed the more surfactant amount for all the surfactants at each concentration. Increasing temperature help to improve all the surfactant adsorption capacity but failed to lift all the coal particles’ zeta potential at the tested surfactant concentrations. Adding salts increased the SDBS adsorption but no obvious improvement was found for the other two surfactants.