Viscosity Reduction Research Articles

Study of viscosity reduction mechanism of oilfield polymer solution by spectroscopy method

The viscosity reduction mechanism of a polymer aqueous solution for oil displacement affected by factors such as salinity, cation type, iron ion and temperature need to be further elucidated. The functional group absorbance of polyacrylamide was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The spectral behavior of polyacrylamide was analyzed from the perspective of molecular structure, and the microscopic level of its viscosity was explored. The results show that the absorbance of the polymer is affected by the valence of the cation in the order of Fe2+ > Fe3+ > Al3+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > K+ > Na+. Anion has no effect on the viscosity of polyacrylamide. With the increase of temperature, the absorbance and viscosity of polymer solution decreased. This paper investigated the effects of salinity, cation type, iron ion concentration and temperature on the spectral behavior of polyacrylamide. It was found that the decrease of absorbance was consistent with the change of molecular conformation. The decrease in amide groups in polymer solution leads to a decrease in solution absorbance, while the increase in amide groups leads to an increase in solution absorbance. Therefore, the conformational changes of polyacrylamide molecular chains can be determined by amide groups. The UV spectrum of polymers can provide a theoretical basis for the study of viscosity reduction mechanism. The ultraviolet spectrophotometry is simple and intuitive, which provides guidance for the selection of oil displacement polymer and the research and development of high-performance polymer.

Numerical simulation investigation on aerodynamic characteristics of rotor in plateau environment

To investigate the impact of high-altitude environments on helicopter rotor aerodynamic characteristics, this study developed a computational model that integrates CFD, BP neural networks, and the free wake method. The accuracy of the model was validated through wind tunnel experiments and comparisons with CFD results. Using this model, the effects of altitude and temperature at high altitudes on rotor aerodynamic characteristics during hover and forward flight were studied. The results indicate that with constant temperature, rotor thrust significantly decreases as altitude increases, primarily due to reduced air density. As altitude rises with unchanged temperature, the decrease in air density directly affects the lift and thrust generated by the rotor, leading to a decline in hover performance. Furthermore, the study found that rotor aerodynamic coefficients do not vary significantly across different altitudes. Further analysis suggests this stability is due to the high Reynolds number in the calculated state. In the high Reynolds number range, changes in Reynolds number have minimal impact on aerodynamic coefficients, resulting in relatively stable aerodynamic performance across varying altitudes. At a constant altitude, lower temperatures lead to slight increases in rotor thrust and torque, while the thrust coefficient and power coefficient remain almost unaffected. This phenomenon is attributed to changes in air density and viscosity caused by the lower temperatures. The increase in air density positively impacts thrust and torque, while the reduction in air viscosity decreases the rotor's surface frictional resistance. This partially offsets the increase in lift and drag caused by the higher air density, leading to negligible changes in thrust and power coefficients.

Effects of cantaloupe rind powder fortification on yogurt properties: Comparison between raw and enzyme-treated powder

This study investigated the potential of fortifying a probiotic yogurt with cantaloupe rind powder. The raw cantaloupe rind powder was subjected to enzyme treatment to enhance its soluble fiber content. The effects of incorporating raw and enzyme-treated cantaloupe rind powder (referred as RCRP and ECRP, respectively) on the physicochemical properties, textural and rheological properties, antioxidant properties and syneresis of yogurt were evaluated during a 15-day storage period at 4 °C. The results revealed that the inclusion of RCRP resulted in a reduction in yogurt hardness, viscosity, elasticity and stability compared to the control yogurt without cantaloupe rind powder fortification. In contrast, adding ECRP led to an increase in the hardness, viscosity, elasticity and stability of the yogurt. Specifically, on day 15 of storage, the syneresis of ECRP-fortified yogurt was approximately 3 times lower, while that value of RCRP-fortified yogurt was approximately 2 times higher compared to the control yogurt. Notably, the RCRP- and ECRP-fortified yogurts displayed 14- and 9-times higher antioxidant activity, respectively, compared to the control yogurt. This study suggests that employing enzyme treatment on cantaloupe rind powder holds promise as an approach to yield positive effects when incorporating the powder into yogurt, particularly in terms of stability, textural and rheological properties.

Pore-Scale Mechanism Analysis of Enhanced Oil Recovery by Horizontal Well, Dissolver, Nitrogen, and Steam Combined Flooding in Reducer Systems with Different Viscosities for Heavy Oil Thermal Recovery

Horizontal well, dissolver, nitrogen, and steam (HDNS) combined flooding is mainly applied to shallow and thin heavy oil reservoirs to enhance oil recovery. Due to the lack of pore-scale mechanism studies, it is impossible to clarify the oil displacement mechanism of each slug in the process combination and the influence of their interaction on enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Therefore, in this study, HDNS combined flooding technology was simulated in a two-dimensional visualization microscopic model, and three viscosity reducer systems and multi-cycle combined flooding processes were considered. In combination with an emulsification and viscosity reduction experiment, two-dimensional microscopic multiphase seepage experiments were carried out to compare the dynamic seepage law and microscopic occurrence state of multiphase fluids in different systems. The results showed that the ability of three viscosity reducers to improve viscosity reduction efficiency in HDNS combined flooding was A > B > C, and their contributions to the recovery reached 65%, 41%, and 30%, respectively. In the system where a high viscosity reduction efficiency was shown by the viscosity reducer, the enhancements of both sweeping efficiency and displacement efficiency were primarily influenced by the viscosity reducer flooding. Steam flooding collaborated to improve displacement efficiency. The thermal insulation characteristics of N2 flooding may not provide a gain effect. In the system where a low viscosity reduction efficiency was shown by the viscosity reducer, the steam flooding was more important, contributing to 57% of the sweeping efficiency. Nitrogen was helpful for expanding the sweep area of the subsequent steam and viscosity reducer, and the gain effect of the thermal insulation steam chamber significantly improved the displacement efficiency of the subsequent steam flooding by 25%. The interaction of each slug in HDNS combined flooding resulted in the additive effect of increasing production. In actual production, it is necessary to optimize the process and screen the viscosity reducer according to the actual conditions of the reservoir and the characteristics of different viscosity reducers.

Mathematical modeling for the production performance of cyclic multi-thermal fluid stimulation process in layered heavy oil reservoirs

Multi-thermal fluid (MTF), with a unique thermophysical characteristics, has been widely applied in the enhanced heavy oil recovery processes. Especially for the layered heavy oil reservoirs, MTF shows more attractive than the conventional saturated steam. In this study, we propose an improved mathematical model for the production performance of cyclic MTF stimulation process in layered heavy oil reservoirs. In this model, based on a three-zone assumption, we first derive a productivity model for the thermal-fluids huff-n-puff process in layered heavy oil reservoirs. Thereafter, considering the typical EOR mechanisms of non-condensable gases in MTF, the viscosity reduction effect caused by CO2 dissolution and the effect of formation energy supplement caused by N2 are mathematically described. Simultaneously, because of the nonlinear temperature spreading behavior in the formation, an MTFs flooding experiment is also performed to characterize the effect. Meanwhile, a heating radius model with the consideration of steam overlap effect is also involved in our model. Then, the calculation results are compared against the results of a commercial simulator to confirm the accuracy, while a sensitivity analysis on the reservoir and operation parameters is performed. This paper provides a quick estimation approach for the productivity of cyclic MTF stimulation process in layered heavy oil reservoirs.

Tacking: Shear fragility and geometry reduces the dissipation for dense suspensions

Dense suspensions tend to shear jam at large packing fractions. However, it has recently been shown that various oscillation protocols can unjam as well as reduce viscosity and dissipation per strain. In this numerical work, we show that alternating shear rotations protocols also reduce the dissipation per strain similar to shear protocols with a steady primary shear and superimposed cross oscillations, even though the latter's viscosity reduction is more considerable. Furthermore, we find that alternating between primary and perpendicular oscillations yields a much higher dissipation than the two protocols mentioned above, yet has similar viscosity as the cross-oscillatory one. While self-organization has been shown to minimize viscosity, our findings challenge the idea that random organization is the underlying mechanism for reducing the dissipation per strain. Instead, we attribute it to shear “fragility” combined with geometry, which explains the counterintuitive decoupling of the minima of viscosity and dissipation for the alternating shear rotation protocol. This work paves the way for a new class of highly energy-efficient flow protocols. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Rheology of bidisperse non-Brownian suspensions.

We study the rheology of bidisperse non-Brownian suspensions using particle-based simulation, mapping the viscosity as a function of the size ratio of the species, their relative abundance, and the overall solid content. The variation of the viscosity with applied stress exhibits shear-thickening phenomenology irrespective of composition, though the stress-dependent limiting solids fraction governing the viscosity and its divergence point are nonmonotonic in the mixing ratio. Contact force data demonstrate an asymmetric exchange in the dominant stress contribution from large-large to small-small particle contacts as the mixing ratio of the species evolves. Combining a prior model for shear thickening with one for composition-dependent jamming, we obtain a full description of the rheology of bidisperse non-Brownian suspensions capable of predicting effects such as the viscosity reduction observed upon adding small particles to a suspension of large particles.

Effect of biochar-based nano‑nickel catalyst on heavy crude oil upgrading and oil shale pyrolysis

This study involved the preparation of a biochar-based nano‑nickel (Ni/C) catalyst, achieving high dispersion of the nano‑nickel catalyst by utilizing waste coffee grounds as a biochar carrier. The Ni/C catalyst demonstrated commendable catalytic performance in heavy crude oil upgrading. Compared with the control group, the viscosity reduction rate of heavy crude oil was increased by 21.53 %, and the contents of heteroatoms, resins and asphaltenes were effectively reduced, while increasing the ratio of C2-C4 and saturated components. Additionally, the catalyst reduced the initial decomposition temperature and the maximum thermal decomposition rate temperature of oil shale by 10 °C and 8 °C, respectively. The results of DFT calculations also indicated that the catalyst effectively improved the pyrolysis activity of kerogen molecules. Noteworthy characteristics of the catalyst include its low cost, simple operation, and high catalytic activity, making it highly promising for broad applications in unconventional petroleum energy exploitation.

INFLUENCE OF GRADED LEVELS OF GUM ARABIC ON YOGHURT STABILITY UNDER STORAGE

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Arabic Gum (AG) on the physical properties of yoghurt made from powdered milk. Reconstituted powdered milk was pasteurized at 85oC for 30 minutes and then fast-cooled to 42oC. Starter culture MIX505LYODCU (Streptococcus thermophiles and Lactobacillus bulgaricus SSP.) was added at 3% inclusion level, and the mixtures were incubated at 42oC for four hours. Yoghurt samples were formulated with 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% Arabic Gum in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). After setting, the yoghurt was kept refrigerated at 10oC for 24hrs. Standard analytical procedures were used to determine the physicochemical properties of the product. . Results showed that, powdered milk contained 3.5% moisture, 24.43% protein, 25.66% fat, 28.45% lactose, 3.65% ash, 6.57 pH and acidity of 0.14. Gum Arabic had moisture, protein, ash, and fibre contents of 7.00%, 2.55%, 1.38%, and 1.26% respectively. Increasing the gum level, led to a significant (P≤0.05) decrease in the pH values of the yoghurt, while wheying-offWheyingwas significantly (P<0.05) affected by the gum arabic level. All treated samples were synerisis free. Viscosity increased as gum concentration increasedwith the control sample having the the lowest viscosity of 1213cp, and samples stabilized with 5%, 10% and 15% Gum Arabic (GA) had viscosities of 1260.42. 1326.25 and 1402.50cp respectively. Regarding storage period, the pH- value of yoghurt was significantly (P<0.05)as well as wheying-off of yoghurt and there was significant (P<0.05) reduction in viscosity during storage period.

Combining High-Throughput Experiments and Active Learning to Characterize Deep Eutectic Solvents.

The high tunability of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) stems from the ease of changing their precursors and relative compositions. However, measuring the physicochemical properties across large composition and temperature ranges, necessary to properly design target-specific DESs, is tedious and error-prone and represents a bottleneck in the advancement and scalability of DES-based applications. As such, active learning (AL) methodologies based on Gaussian processes (GPs) were developed in this work to minimize the experimental effort necessary to characterize DESs. Owing to its importance for large-scale applications, the reduction of DES viscosity through the addition of a low-molecular-weight solvent was explored as a case study. A high-throughput experimental screening was initially performed on nine different ternary DESs. Then, GPs were successfully trained to predict DES viscosity from its composition and temperature, showcasing the ability of these stochastic, nonparametric models to accurately describe the physicochemical properties of complex mixtures. Finally, the ability of GPs to provide estimates of their own uncertainty was leveraged through an AL framework to minimize the number of data points necessary to obtain accurate viscosity modes. This led to a significant reduction in data requirements, with many systems requiring only five independent viscosity data points to be properly described.

In-situ upgrading of Egyptian heavy crude oil using matrix polymer carboxyl methyl cellulose/silicate graphene oxide nanocomposites

This study delves into catalytic aquathermolysis to enhance the economic viability of heavy oil production by in-situ upgrading technique. It is known that introducing nanocatalysts would promote the aquathermolysis reaction. Therefore, in this study, the effect of matrix polymer carboxyl methyl cellulose/silicate graphene oxide nanocomposites (CSG1 and CSG2) in the catalytic aquathermolysis of Egyptian heavy crude oil was studied. Characterization techniques including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to evaluate the structure of the synthesized nanocomposites. Results reveal CSG2 has higher crystallinity and superior dispersion compared to CSG1, and both exhibited a good stability in aqueous suspensions. CSG2 enriched with graphene oxide, demonstrates superior thermal stability, suitable for high-temperature applications such as catalytic aquathermolysis process. Single factor and orthogonal tests were used to assess the catalytic aquathermolysis performance of the prepared nanoparticles. The obtained results revealed that the optimum conditions to use CSG1 and CSG2 are 40% water concentration, 225 °C temperature, and 0.5 wt% catalyst percentage. Where, CSG2 showed better viscosity reduction (82%) compared to CSG1 (62%), highlighting its superior performance in reducing the viscosity of heavy oil. Numerical results from SARA analysis, gas chromatography, and rheological testing confirmed the catalytic aquathermolysis's efficacy in targeting asphaltene macromolecules and producing lighter hydrocarbon fractions.

The Influencing Factors and Mechanism of Anionic and Zwitterionic Surfactant on Viscosity Reduction in Heavy O/W Emulsions.

The high viscosity of heavy crude oil has been an obstacle to its safe production and economic transportation. In this work, a screened emulsified viscosity reducer system is conducted. Experimental results demonstrate that the most effective viscosity reducing agent comprises sodium oleate (NaOl) and cocamidopropyl betaine (CAB-35) in a ratio of 1:2, achieving a viscosity reduction rate of 94.65%. Additionally, the interfacial tension between oil and water decreases from 27 to 4 mN/m with 0.1 mass % TEOA and NaOH in a 1:1 ratio. The oil droplet size is uniformly distributed with D mean is 14 μm and D 50 is 11 μm. Droplets flocculate as the salinity increases to 0.2 mol/L, which corresponds to the apparent increase of viscosity. The adsorption of long alkyl chain lipophilic groups on surfactant molecules at the oil-water interface and the water film alters the wettability of pipe steel to water-wet, further enhancing the application of emulsification and viscosity reduction effects. The primary mechanism behind the viscosity reduction in emulsification is attributed to strong electrostatic interactions stemming from molecular electrostatic potential distributions.

The Impact of Temperature and the Duration of Freezing on a Hydrogel Used for a 3D-Bioprinted In Vitro Skin Model.

Skin bioprinting has the potential to revolutionize treatment approaches for injuries and surgical procedures, while also providing a valuable platform for assessing and screening cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. This technology offers key advantages, including flexibility and reproducibility, which enable the creation of complex, multilayered scaffolds that closely mimic the intricate microenvironment of native skin tissue. The development of an ideal hydrogel is critical for the successful bioprinting of these scaffolds with incorporated cells. In this study, we used a hydrogel formulation developed in our laboratory to fabricate a 3D-bioprinted skin model. The hydrogel composition was carefully selected based on its high compatibility with human skin cells, incorporating alginate, methyl cellulose, and nanofibrillated cellulose. One of the critical challenges in this process, particularly for its commercialization and large-scale production, is ensuring consistency with minimal batch-to-batch variations. To address this, we explored methods with which to preserve the physicochemical properties of the hydrogels, with a focus on freezing techniques. We validated the pre-frozen hydrogels' printability, rheology, and mechanical and surface properties. Our results revealed that extended freezing times significantly reduced the viscosity of the formulations due to ice crystal formation, leading to a redistribution of the polymer chains. This reduction in viscosity resulted in a more challenging extrusion and increased macro- and microporosity of the hydrogels, as confirmed by nanoCT imaging. The increased porosity led to greater water uptake, swelling, compromised scaffold integrity, and altered degradation kinetics. The insights gained from this study lay a solid foundation for advancing the development of an in vitro skin model with promising applications in preclinical and clinical research.

Efficient treatment of polyacrylamide wastewater by cascade heterogeneous Fenton and magnetic flocculation process

A large quantity of polyacrylamide containing wastewater is generated during polymer flooding every year and it poses great threats to the environment. As highly efficient technology for polyacrylamide wastewater treatment with potential for engineering application is rare, magnetic flocculation represents a promising alternative. It usually takes minutes for complete sedimentation to occur. However, we found in experiments that viscosity reduction in advance was essential to improve the performance of magnetic flocculation. So, a cascade of heterogeneous Fenton and magnetic flocculation process was proposed. Effect of Fe3O4 dosage, flocculants type and dosage, flocculation pH, stirring conditions and flocculation methods on the removal efficiency of PAM was investigated. The cascade process turned out to be one of the most efficient technologies and achieved 92% PAM removal rate in the shortest time (45 min) for 500 mg/L of PAM when Fe3O4 dosage was 1.5 g/L, AlCl3 dosage was 100 mg/L and flocculation pH was 8.0 under optimized stirring conditions. Nano-Fe3O4 exhibited good stability after at least 3 successive runs. The water quality of polymer flooding wastewater from Nanyang Oilfield reached the required standards for reinjection after treatment by the cascade process. The study provides a new and highly efficient technology for PAM wastewater treatment with promising potential for engineering application.

Application of Silica Nanoparticles Improved the Growth, Yield, and Grain Quality of Two Salt-Tolerant Rice Varieties under Saline Irrigation.

Salt stress significantly reduces rice yield and quality and is a global challenge, especially in arid and semi-arid regions with limited freshwater resources. The present study was therefore conducted to examine the potential of silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) in mitigating the adverse effects of saline irrigation water in salt-tolerant rice. Two salt-tolerant rice varieties, i.e., Y liangyou 957 (YLY957) and Jingliangyou 534 (JLY534), were irrigated with 0.6% salt solution to simulate high-salt stress and two SiO2 NPs were applied, i.e., control (CK) and SiO2 NPs (15 kg hm-2). The results demonstrated that the application of SiO2 NPs increased, by 33.3% and 23.3%, the yield of YLY957 and JLY534, respectively, compared with CK, which was primarily attributed to an increase in the number of grains per panicle and the grain-filling rate. Furthermore, the application of SiO2 NPs resulted in a notable enhancement in the chlorophyll content, leaf area index, and dry matter accumulation, accompanied by a pronounced stimulation of root system growth and development. Additionally, the SiO2 NPs also improved the antioxidant enzyme activities, i.e., superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activity and reduced the malondialdehyde content. The SiO2 NPs treatment effectively improved the processing quality, appearance quality, and taste quality of the rice. Furthermore, the SiO2 NPs resulted in improvements to the rapid viscosity analyzer (RVA) pasting profile, including an increase in peak viscosity and breakdown values and a reduction in setback viscosity. The application of SiO2 NPs also resulted in a reduction in crystallinity and pasting temperature owing to a reduction in the proportion of B2 + B3 amylopectin chains. Overall, the application of silica nanoparticles improved the quality of rice yield under high-salt stress.

Photoacoustic tracking of photo-magnetically powered nanoparticles for cancer therapy

Abstract The in vivo propulsion and monitoring of nanoparticles (NPs) have received tremendous achievements in the past decade. Developing functional NPs that can be efficiently manipulated inside the human body with a non-invasive tracking modality is critical to clinical translation. This study synthesized a photo-magnetically powered nanoparticle (PMN) with a Fe3O4 core and gold spiky surface. The Au-nanotips ensure PMNs have a strong light absorption in the second near-infrared (NIR) window and produce outstanding photoacoustic signals. The Bio-transmission electron microscopy and simulation results prove that the assembly of PMNs under a magnetic field further enhances the photothermal conversion in cells, contributing to the reduction of ambient viscosity. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) realized real-time monitoring of PMN movements and revealed that laser plus magnetic coupling could improve intratumoral distribution and retention. The proposed methods exhibit excellent potential for the clinical research of cancer nanotherapies.

Impact of silicon carbide, boron nitride, and zirconium dioxide nanoparticles on ester‐based dielectric fluids

AbstractThis research study investigates the influence of various nanoparticles on the dielectric breakdown voltage, oil dissipation factor, viscosity, and thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Nanofluids were prepared using synthetic ester oil as the base fluid, and three nanoparticles, silicon carbide (SiC), boron nitride (BN), and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), were added at different concentrations (0.125 wt%, 0.250 wt%, and 0.375 wt%), which are basically the nano‐sized powder that can be blended in the oil. The dielectric breakdown voltage testing was conducted to evaluate the electrical performance of the nanofluids. Additionally, rheological measurements were performed to study the kinematic viscosity, while thermal conductivity was determined using appropriate techniques. The enhancements in each property were evaluated and compared for the different nanoparticle concentrations and types. Previous studies focused only on the investigation of the electrical properties of nanofluids. However, in the present study, the electrical as well as thermo‐physical characterisation of nanofluids is performed and analysed as they directly affect the cooling performance of transformers. The results provide dielectric and thermo‐physical characterisation that exhibit excellent insulation and cooling functionalities and valuable insights into the potential applications of nanofluids as dielectrics in various high‐voltage electrical equipment. ZrO2 and SiC nanoparticles exhibited a reduction in the oil dissipation factor. SiC consistently improved breakdown voltage (Bdv), while ZrO2 nanoparticles showed concentration‐dependent effects, enhancing Bdv at low concentrations but degrading it at higher ones. Unexpectedly, nanoparticle dispersion and lubrication effects can lead to viscosity reductions, countering conventional expectations. Surprisingly, at the highest concentration, the thermal conductivity decreases compared to the lower nano‐concentrations in synthetic ester oil.

Effects of different fermentation processes on cooking and eating quality of brown rice noodles

While brown rice noodles are nutritionally dense, their subpar cooking and eating attributes render them unpalatable to consumers. Fermentation serves as a viable method to enhance food quality and taste. In our previous study, the quality of brown rice noodles was notably enhanced through solid-state fermentation of rice flour (SFRF) with Limosilactobacillus fermentum. In this study, we investigated the impact of SFRF, solid-state fermentation of rice grains (SFRG), and liquid-state fermentation of rice grains (LFRG) on the cooking attributes, sensory qualities, and processing characteristics of brown rice noodles (BRN). The findings indicated that the quality of brown rice noodles (BRN) could be notably enhanced through the application of these three fermentation techniques. In comparison to the BRN produced via SFRF and LFRG, the rice noodles processed using SFRG exhibited superior visual appeal, reduced cooking losses (4.87%), minimal breakage rates (4.00%), and enhanced taste profile. Following fermentation, the gelatinization temperature (Tp) and peak viscosity of rice flour decreased, with SFRG demonstrating the lowest gelatinization temperature. Pasting and rheological assessments revealed that solid-state fermentation of rice grains led to a reduction in the pasting viscosity of rice flour by hindering starch granule swelling and disintegration. In summary, noodles processed through SFRG exhibited enhanced cooking and sensory characteristics, luminosity (L*), and superior gel structure.

Influence of plasticisation during foam injection moulding on the melt viscosity and fibre length of long glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene

Abstract The processing of long glass fibre-reinforced thermoplastics results in considerable fibre damage, particularly during plasticising. By using thermoplastic foam injection moulding (FIM) with a constant blowing agent atmosphere, fibre damage during plasticisation can be reduced. This can be attributed to the reduction of the melt viscosity on the one hand and the influence of the melting behaviour on the other. Therefore, the influence of the FIM and the process parameters on the fibre length and the fibre length distribution are analysed and compared with the influence of the process parameters on the melt viscosity.

Coupling aquathermolysis of water-heavy oil-methanol catalyzed by o-phenanthroline-Cu(II) complex at low temperature

In this study, a Cu(II) coordinated complex was synthesized using o-phenanthroline and copper chloride. The synthesized complex, serving as a aquathermolysis catalyst, significantly reduces heavy oil viscosity at lower temperatures. Studies indicate that at a reaction temperature of 200 °C, with a catalyst concentration of 0.1% and a reaction duration of 6 h, heavy oil viscosity significantly reduces. Heavy oil viscosity dropped from 392,000 mPa∙s to 63,000 mPa∙s, achieving an 83.93% reduction rate. This catalyst maintains superior catalytic performance at lower temperatures compared to other catalyst types. Using methanol as a hydrogen donor further enhances the catalyst’s effect, increasing the heavy oil viscosity reduction rate from 83.93% to 88.63%. Thermogravimetric, four-component, and elemental analyses reveal that aquathermolysis of heavy oil primarily occurs in its heavier components. Following the aquathermolysis reaction, there is an increase in light components and a decrease in impurity atoms in heavy oil, resulting in improved crude oil quality.