Transverse Relaxation Time Research Articles

A Methodology Study on the Optimal Detection of Oil and Moisture Content in Soybeans Using LF-NMR and Its 2D T1-T2 Nuclear Magnetic Technology

In this study, we aimed to provide an accurate method for the detection of oil and moisture content in soybeans. Introducing two-dimensional low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-2D-NMR) qualitatively solved the problem of overlapping component signals that one-dimensional (1D) LF-NMR techniques cannot distinguish in soybean detection research. Soxhlet extraction, oven drying, LF-NMR spectrum, and LF-NMR oil and moisture content software were used to detect soybean oil and moisture content. The comparison showed that the LF-NMR oil and moisture content software was faster and more accurate than the other methods. The specific identification of the oil and moisture signals of soybean seeds using longitudinal relaxation time (T1) and transverse relaxation time (T2) successfully solved the problems of less mobile water, overlapping free water, and oil signals. Therefore, LF-2D-NMR can complement conventional LF-NMR assays, and this study provides a new method for the analysis and detection of moisture and oil in soybeans.

Scyllo-inositol: Transverse relaxation time constant at 3T and concentration changes associated with aging and alcohol use.

The goals of this study were to measure the apparent transverse relaxation time constant, T2 , of scyllo-inositol (sIns) in young and older healthy adults' brains and to investigate the effect of alcohol usage on sIns in young and older healthy adults' brains, using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 3T. Twenty-nine young adults (age 21 ± 1years) and 24 older adults (age 74 ± 3years) participated in this study. MRS data were acquired from two brain regions (the occipital cortex and posterior cingulate cortex) at 3T. The T2 of sIns was measured using a localization by adiabatic selective refocusing (LASER) sequence at various echo times, while the sIns concentrations were measured using a short-echo-time stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) sequence. A trend towards lower T2 relaxation values of sIns in older adults was observed, although these were not significant. sIns concentration was higher with age in both brain regions and was significantly higher in the young when considering alcohol consumption of more than two drinks per week. This study shows that differences in sIns can be found in two distinct regions of the brain across two age groups, potentially reflecting normal aging. In addition, it is important to take into account alcohol consumption when reporting the sIns level in the brain.

Laboratory NMR Study to Quantify the Water Saturation of Partially Saturated Porous Rocks

Abstract The low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique is widely used as a noninvasive method to characterize the water content of subsurface porous media, such as aquifers and hydrocarbon reservoirs, but the quantitative correlation between the water saturation and the NMR relaxation signal has not been fully addressed. We conducted a laboratory study to measure the NMR signals of sandstone samples with different water saturations and to develop an empirical model for estimating the water saturation. The partially saturatinthe irreducible water saturationg states were derived by a high-speed centrifuge. The result shows that the water saturation is proportional to the geometric mean of the transverse relaxation time and can be fitted through a power function. Moreover, it has been found that the fitting parameters vary with the porosity and exhibit similar behaviors with the parameters of the classical Archie equation. The water saturation as well as its mobility state can be estimated with the NMR signals and porosity data. The proposed method has the potential to be applied to detect and quantify the water content in vadose zones, phreatic aquifers, permafrost regions, and gas hydrate reservoirs.

Rapid whole-brain quantitative MT imaging

PurposeTo provide a robust whole-brain quantitative magnetization transfer (MT) imaging method that is not limited by long acquisition times. MethodsTwo variants of a spiral 2D interleaved multi-slice spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) sequence are used for rapid quantitative MT imaging of the brain at 3 T. A dual flip angle, steady-state prepared, double-contrast method is used for combined B1 and-T1 mapping in combination with a single-contrast MT-prepared acquisition over a range of different saturation flip angles (50 deg to 850 deg) and offset frequencies (1 kHz and 10 kHz). Five sets (containing minimum 6 to maximum 18 scans) with different MT-weightings were acquired. In addition, main magnetic field inhomogeneities (ΔB0) were measured from two Cartesian low-resolution 2D SPGR scans with different echo times. Quantitative MT model parameters were derived from all sets using a two-pool continuous-wave model analysis, yielding the pool-size ratio, F, their exchange rate, kf, and their transverse relaxation time, T2r. ResultsWhole-brain quantitative MT imaging was feasible for all sets with total acquisition times ranging from 7:15 min down to 3:15 min. For accurate modeling, B1-correction was essential for all investigated sets, whereas ΔB0-correction showed limited bias for the observed maximum off-resonances at 3 T. ConclusionThe combination of rapid B1-T1 mapping and MT-weighted imaging using a 2D multi-slice spiral SPGR research sequence offers excellent prospects for rapid whole-brain quantitative MT imaging in the clinical setting.

An NMR study of the role of coir fibers in the hydration and drying of cement paste at early age

Natural fibers such as coir fibers have been increasingly explored as reinforcement in the cementitious composite to promote sustainable and economical construction. However, the in-situ application of this composite presents challenges due to the complex interplay of water behaviors, involving the hydrophilicity of natural fibers, the hydration of cement and the evaporation due to drying. Although these water-related processes play a crucial role in achieving the desired properties, they have been relatively underreported in the literature. This study aims to investigate the role of coir fibers in the water distribution and pore size distribution during the early age (initial 3 days) of cement paste hydration under drying conditions. Accordingly, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) methods involving the moisture profiling and transverse relaxation are used to monitor the water distribution and pore size distribution in time but also in space. The samples are made by adding water-saturated coir fibers to the cement paste at different dosages (0, 1%, 2% and 4%). The effects of drying and coir fiber dosages on the samples are evaluated. The results show that drying leads to a moisture gradient and a larger transverse relaxation time T2, i.e., a coarser pore structure near the drying surface. By adding the saturated coir fibers, the moisture gradient caused by drying is decreased and spread out along the sample. As the coir fiber content increases, the water content along the sample and the total water content of the sample increase. As a result, the samples with coir fibers exhibit a lower T2, i.e., a denser pore structure near the drying surface. Coir fibers are shown to eliminate the adverse effect of drying on cement hydration through three effects, including the internal curing, improved water transport and crack control. The results from this study reveal the promising potential of coir fibers for in-situ construction applications.

Study of the impact of various porous media on pore space utilization and CO2 storage by injection of microbubbles into oil reservoirs

CO2 capture and storage technology have the potential to help reach net zero emissions. CO2-enhanced oil recovery (CO2 EOR) is a favourable method. Limited pilot testing has provided preliminary evidence that the unique physical properties of gas microbubbles (MBs) can be used to improve pore utilization efficiency. In this study, supercritical CO2 injection at 0.05 mL/min into sand samples with different grain sizes under reservoir conditions was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The spatial distribution of the CO2 and oil and the dynamic pore occupancy mechanism were determined for the first time, and the results from normal bubbles (NBs) and MBs were compared. The results show a more significant left shift of the transverse relaxation time in the case of MB injection, which means that CO2 can easily occupy a wide range of large pore spaces. Dynamic changes in the oil volume in the four types of pores classified by the transverse relaxation time indicate that the oil in large pores is flushed earlier when MB is injected and that the CO2 saturation in minimal pores (T2 relaxation time range from 5 ms to 100 ms) and small pores (T2 relaxation time range from 100 ms to 500 ms) increases. The cumulative oil volume fraction decreases by 9.0% when injecting MBs. From the perspective of carbon storage, the gas storage potential is significantly enhanced within low-permeability sand when injected with MBs. The maximum volume of free CO2 was enhanced by 16.9% in this case. In addition, the storage efficiency is enhanced up to 5.1% for low-permeability sand and 1.6% for medium-permeability sand. However, bubble flow is not as advantageous in high-permeability sand. Considering dissolution trapping, the storage efficiency reaches 26.3%.

Win-Win Cooperation: Magnetic relaxation switching biosensor for chloramphenicol detection based on the pipet platform and antigen-driven enzyme-free dual signal amplification strategy

Herein, we developed an enzyme-free dual signal amplification magnetic relaxation switching biosensor to detect the high hazard chloramphenicol based on the significant advantages of the pipet platform (low cost and easy operation). The competitive immunoassay was carried out by coating the polydopamine-modified pipets with the antibody, causing a content change of trigger DNA-chloramphenicol-antigen conjugate (the first signal amplification) in the supernatant. This triggered the aggregation of magnetic nanoparticles with three-dimensional DNA network structures (the second signal amplification) for chloramphenicol quantitative analysis by changes in transverse relaxation time (T2). The pipet platform can simplify the sample pretreatment process to eliminate the potential interference with magnetic probes. Its low-cost combined with the enzyme-free strategy greatly reduces the overall detection expenses. The antigen-driven dual signal amplification strategy not only has high sensitivity (1.37 pg/mL), but also provides an alternative path for the efficient combination of immunoassay and DNA signal amplification.

Clinical utilisation of multimodal quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in investigating muscular damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a study on the association between gluteal muscle groups and motor function

BackgroundDuchennemuscular dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disease characterised by progressive muscular weakness and atrophy. Currently, studies on DMD muscle function mostly focus on individual muscles; little is known regarding the effect of gluteal muscle group damage on motor function.ObjectiveTo explore potential imaging biomarkers of hip and pelvic muscle groups for measuring muscular fat replacement and inflammatory oedema in DMD with multimodal quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Materials and methodsOne hundred fifty-nine DMD boys and 32 healthy male controls were prospectively included. All subjects underwent MRI examination of the hip and pelvic muscles with T1 mapping, T2 mapping and Dixon sequences. Quantitatively measured parameters included longitudinal relaxation time (T1), transverse relaxation time (T2) and fat fraction. Investigations were all based on hip and pelvic muscle groups covering flexors, extensors, adductors and abductors. The North Star Ambulatory Assessment and stair climbing tests were used to measure motor function in DMD.ResultsT1 of the extensors (r = 0.720, P < 0.01), flexors (r = 0.558, P < 0.01) and abductors (r = 0.697, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with the North Star Ambulatory Assessment score. In contrast, T2 of the adductors (r = -0.711, P < 0.01) and fat fraction of the extensors (r = -0.753, P < 0.01) were negatively correlated with the North Star Ambulatory Assessment score. Among them, T1 of the abductors (b = 0.013, t = 2.052, P = 0.042), T2 of the adductors (b = -0.234, t = -2.554, P = 0.012) and fat fraction of the extensors (b = -0.637, t = − 4.096, P < 0.001) significantly affected the North Star Ambulatory Assessment score. Moreover, T1 of the abductors was highly predictive for identifying motor dysfunction in DMD, with an area under the curve of 0.925.ConclusionMagnetic resonance biomarkers of hip and pelvic muscle groups (particularly T1 values of the abductor muscles) have the potential to be used as independent risk factors for motor dysfunction in DMD.

Myocardial Tissue Characterization in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Studies of Patients Recovering From COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis.

Background Meta-analysis can identify biological factors that moderate cardiac magnetic resonance myocardial tissue markers such as native T1 (longitudinal magnetization relaxation time constant) and T2 (transverse magnetization relaxation time constant) in cohorts recovering from COVID-19 infection. Methods and Results Cardiac magnetic resonance studies of patients with COVID-19 using myocardial T1, T2 mapping, extracellular volume, and late gadolinium enhancement were identified by database searches. Pooled effect sizes and interstudy heterogeneity (I2) were estimated with random effects models. Moderators of interstudy heterogeneity were analyzed by meta-regression of the percent difference of native T1 and T2 between COVID-19 and control groups (%ΔT1 [percent difference of the study-level means of myocardial T1 in patients with COVID-19 and controls] and %ΔT2 [percent difference of the study-level means of myocardial T2 in patients with COVID-19 and controls]), extracellular volume, and the proportion of late gadolinium enhancement. Interstudy heterogeneities of %ΔT1 (I2=76%) and %ΔT2 (I2=88%) were significantly lower than for native T1 and T2, respectively, independent of field strength, with pooled effect sizes of %ΔT1=1.24% (95% CI, 0.54%-1.9%) and %ΔT2=3.77% (95% CI, 1.79%-5.79%). %ΔT1 was lower for studies in children (median age: 12.7 years) and athletes (median age: 21 years), compared with older adults (median age: 48 years). Duration of recovery from COVID-19, cardiac troponins, C-reactive protein, and age were significant moderators for %ΔT1 and/or %ΔT2. Extracellular volume, adjusted by age, was moderated by recovery duration. Age, diabetes, and hypertension were significant moderators of the proportion of late gadolinium enhancement in adults. Conclusions T1 and T2 are dynamic markers of cardiac involvement in COVID-19 that reflect the regression of cardiomyocyte injury and myocardial inflammation during recovery. Late gadolinium enhancement and to a lesser extent extracellular volume, are more static biomarkers moderated by preexisting risk factors linked to adverse myocardial tissue remodeling.

Water-Soluble Chemically Precise Fluorinated Molecular Clusters for Interference-Free Multiplex 19F MRI in Living Mice.

Fluorine-19 magnetic resonance imaging (19F MRI) is gaining widespread interest from the fields of biomolecule detection, cell tracking, and diagnosis, benefiting from its negligible background, deep tissue penetration, and multispectral capacity. However, a wide range of 19F MRI probes are in great demand for the development of multispectral 19F MRI due to the limited number of high-performance 19F MRI probes. Herein, we report a type of water-soluble molecular 19F MRI nanoprobe by conjugating fluorine-containing moieties with a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cluster for multispectral color-coded 19F MRI. These chemically precise fluorinated molecular clusters are of excellent aqueous solubility with relatively high 19F contents and of single 19F resonance frequency with suitable longitudinal and transverse relaxation times for high-performance 19F MRI. We construct three POSS-based molecular nanoprobes with distinct 19F chemical shifts at -71.91, -123.23, and -60.18 ppm and achieve interference-free multispectral color-coded 19F MRI of labeled cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, in vivo 19F MRI reveals that these molecular nanoprobes could selectively accumulate in tumors and undergo rapid renal clearance afterward, illustrating their favorable in vivo behavior for biomedical applications. This study provides an efficient strategy to expand the 19F probe libraries for multispectral 19F MRI in biomedical research.

Dynamics of diffusion, evaporation, and retention of organic solvents in paints by unilateral NMR and HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy

Transport of organic solvents in polymeric matrices plays a central role in many processes of interest to the coatings industry. Previous studies have focused on individual processes taking place in the solvent-paint system. In the present study, we report results on the molecular dynamics in a solvent/paint system during the entire sequence of absorption, diffusion, swelling, and evaporation processes, obtained non-invasively, in situ, and in real time using unilateral NMR relaxometry. The associated chemical structures were investigated using HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy. Four distinct ranges of molecular motion in the solvent/paint film were identified based on proton NMR transverse relaxation time (T2) data. The fast motion of the freely moving solvent molecules was discriminated from the slower motion of the so-called bound phase of the solvent molecules physically and chemically interacting with the cross-linked polymer network. In addition, two distinct domains of the cross-linked and mobile phases of the polymerized oil were observed, allowing the study of both the dynamics of the swelling-contraction process of the polymer and of the solubilization process. Such non-invasive analyses provide significant information on transport phenomena of the solvent in the paint film, as well as on the effects of various solvents applied to oil paintings.

Three techniques for measuring the transverse relaxation time of cesium atoms

The transverse relaxation time (T2) is an important indicator to determine the fundamental sensitivity limit of alkali-metal atomic magnetometers. We propose a method based on the principle of longitudinal field modulation that obtains T2 by scanning the transverse static magnetic field. The previous technique of extracting T2 from the linewidth of the modulation frequency and the traditional magnetic-resonance-broadening-fitting method are also described. The T2 measurements of Cesium (Cs) atoms are carried out through these three methods, whose operating environments are applicable to different atomic magnetometers, respectively. The method that we propose can be used for obtaining the T2 of Cs atoms as well as detecting the transverse static magnetic field and is customized for the study of the Cs–Xenon ensemble for the construction of nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscopes. Moreover, the relationship between the limit sensitivities and cell temperatures is further studied in the experiment.

Permeability modeling of Upper Cretaceous Bahariya Formation rocks, Abu Sennan field, Western Desert, Egypt

The present work aims to describe in detail the petrophysical properties of the Bahariya Formation (Abu Sennan field) through processing the core sample data and finding out the possible relations between permeability and other reservoir parameters such as porosity, specific internal surface, formation factor, and nuclear magnetic resonance to obtain reliable permeability prediction model of the Upper Cretaceous formation. The core samples have a length range of 2–4 cm with a diameter of 2.54 cm. Many petrophysical reservoir parameters were measured, such as permeability, porosity, density, formation factor, and special measurements such as spectral induced polarization, nuclear magnetic resonance, and specific internal surface. The samples cover a wide range of porosity (11.82–23.68 %) and permeability (0.06–133.65 mD). The porosity-permeability relationship indicates the increase of the permeability with porosity increase for the studied samples. The reservoir quality index ranges from 0.02 to 0.78 μm. The flow zone indicator ranges from 0.09 to 3.39 μm where pore throat radius (R35) ranges from 0.10 to 7.40 μm. The reservoir quality index (RQI) and flow zone indicator (FZI) cross-plot show a better understanding of the formation evaluation. The hydraulic flow units are (0.09 μm < FZI ≤ 3.39 μm) and RQI < (1 μm). NMR longitudinal relaxation time T1 range is 1.21–175 ms, NMR transversal relaxation time T2(100) range is 0.70–91.77 ms, and T2(600) range is 0.74–75.86 ms. Models that incorporate porosity and NMR relaxation times will be more accurate and suitable for permeability prediction. Using multiple regression to determine the exponents of the power-law equation and replacing the porosity with the formation factor can improve the permeability prediction for the samples under investigation. The utilizing of NMR in predicting the permeability through a robust model considers an additional value for the Upper Cretaceous rocks in Egypt.

Investigations into Variations in Meso- and Macro-Physicomechanical Properties of Black Sandstone under High-Temperature Conditions Based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

The high-temperature environment has a significant deterioration effect on the meso- and macro-physicomechanical properties of rocks. Black sandstone in Chuxiong Yunnan was chosen as the test sample to perform a high-temperature test, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) test, and a uniaxial compressive test (UCT). After high-temperature heating (25°C–1,200°C), the thermally damaged samples were subjected to NMR tests in both saturated and centrifugal states. The transverse relaxation time T2 spectrum distribution and T2 spectrum area were subsequently obtained. The temperature effect of the mesopore structure was investigated by analyzing the changes in porosity. The T2 spectrum cutoff value was determined, and the temperature effect of the movable fluid migration law for rocks was evaluated. The thermal damage constitutive relationship with porosity as the damage variable was determined, and the evolution law of mesopore structure parameters and macroscopic mechanical parameters was discussed. UCT results showed that the mechanical characteristics of black sandstone were obviously degraded by high temperature, and especially the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) decreased sharply after the temperature exceeded 900°C. NMR results identified 900°C as an inflection point for the mesostructure change. For temperatures lower than 900°C, the improvement of pore connectivity was not obvious. For temperatures exceeding 900°C, the porosity increased rapidly. The porosity had a great influence on UCS, and there was a clear exponential function relationship between the two. The larger the porosity, the smaller the UCS. It showed that it was an effective angle to study the mesopore characteristics and mechanical properties of high-temperature rocks based on the NMR technique.

Pore Structure Evolution in Sandstone of Underground Gas Storage during Cyclic Injection and Production Based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technology

The underground gas storage (UGS) in depleted sandstone reservoirs forms the largest proportion of the UGS market in China. Multiple cycles of natural gas injection and production in the sandstone cause the rapid increase and drawdown of pore pressure, which may induce damage to the rock skeleton structure, and cause complex fluid flow paths in the sandstone reservoir. In this paper, transverse relaxation time (T2), nuclear magnetism resonance imaging, and high-pressure mercury intrusion analysis are combined to evaluate the variation in pore structure of medium-grained sandstone. The results show that cyclic injection and production of fluid leads to a slight increase in total pore volume, indicating that weak damage to rocks occurs. The T2 spectrum at the low pore pressure (10 MPa) and high pore pressure (25 MPa) both show that the shrinkage of the medium-size pores occurs after multiple cycles of injection and production. The pore volume of large-size pores was not highly correlated with the number of cycles. With the increase in pore pressure, the pore volume ratio under high pore pressure increased with the number of cycles, while it fluctuated strongly under low pore pressure.

Evidence of hydrothermal fluid migration pathways in pores and microfractures based on nuclear magnetic resonance and electron microscopic analyses from the Southwest Indian Ridge

The formation of massive sulfide deposits on the seafloor is closely related to sub-seafloor hydrothermal circulation. Hydrothermal circulation depends on the connected pores and fractures. Most previous studies have focused on hydrothermal circulation at the macroscopic scale; however, the transport pathways of hydrothermal fluids have rarely been studied at the microscopic scale. This study showed that multiple measurement techniques could characterize the pores of rocks and the mineral fraction surrounding these pores. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to measure the porosity of fresh basalt, altered basalt, massive sulfide, and sulfide chimneys obtained from the Southwest Indian Ridge. Meanwhile, the distribution of pore radius and pore throats in these samples was obtained using the NMR transverse relaxation time distribution. The scanning electron microscopy results and polarizing light microscope images showed that the pores of altered basalts are more developed than those of fresh basalts, which is consistent with the NMR measurement results that altered basalts have a large pore size distribution. In addition, metallic minerals such as pyrite were found to be precipitated in these pores, and microfractures were observed in altered basalts. This demonstrates that the pores and microfractures in these altered basalts provide pathways for fluid transport and are enriched with metal minerals. Altered basalt is closely related to the formation of massive sulfide deposits and is an important ore-prospecting indicator. Therefore, the study of rock pore structures and components can provide a better understanding of hydrothermal circulation and contribute to the exploration of mineral resources.

Hip flexion angle affects longitudinal muscle activity of the rectus femoris in leg extension exercise.

We investigated the effect of the hip flexion angle (HFA) on the longitudinal muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF) during leg extension exercise (LEE). We conducted an acute study in a specific population. Nine male bodybuilders performed isotonic LEE using a leg extension machine at three different HFAs: 0°, 40°, and 80°. Participants extended their knees from 90° to 0° at each HFA setting for four sets of ten repetitions at 70% of the one-repetition maximum. The transverse relaxation time (T2) of the RF was measured before and after LEE using magnetic resonance imaging. We analyzed the rate of change in the T2 value in the proximal, middle, and distal regions of the RF. The subjective sensation of muscle contraction of the quadriceps was measured using a numerical rating scale (NRS) and compared with the T2 value which was the objective index. At 80°, the T2 value in the middle RF was lower than that in the distal RF (p < 0.05). The T2 values at 0° and 40° HFA were higher than those at 80° HFA in the proximal (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) and middle RF (p < 0.01, p < 0.01). The NRS scores were inconsistent with the objective index. These results suggest that the 40° HFA is practical for region-specific strengthening of the proximal RF, and subjective sensation alone as an indication of training may not activate the proximal RF. We conclude that activation of each longitudinal section of the RF is possible depending on the hip joint angle.

A novel method for evaluation of the spontaneous imbibition process in tight reservoir rocks: Mathematical model and experimental verification

Spontaneous imbibition driven by capillary forces is essential for the development of oil and gas resources because it can significantly influence the oil recovery of tight reservoirs. But limited by traditional experimental methods, the existing mathematical models lack applicability to complex tight reservoir rocks. Therefore, to better predict water imbibition in tight reservoirs, this paper proposes a new spontaneous imbibition model based on modifications of the classical Handy model. Two important parameters, the average capillary pressure, and the imbibition permeability are derived using a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy method to quantify the macroscopic driving force and percolation ability of the complex pore network. Furthermore, combined experiments of co-current spontaneous imbibition experiments and transverse relaxation time analysis on four shale core plug samples are conducted to verify the new model. Results show the imbibition process can be modeled successfully before the imbibition volume reaches 85% of the maximum imbibition volume, and two continuous stages: the early/free imbibition stage and the later/limited imbibition stage, are then subdivided according to the applicability of our model. Considering the heterogeneity of the pore network in shale samples, it can be inferred that an uneven imbibition front occurred during the imbibition process. In all, this model enriches the classical imbibition theory and provides a new approach to analyzing the imbibition of fracturing fluids in complex tight reservoirs.

Amphoteric retarder for long-standing cementing: Preparation, properties and working mechanism

Amphoteric retarder (AIDA) was prepared by radical copolymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS), itaconic acid (IA), 2-(Methacryloyloxy) ethyltrimethylammonium chloride (DMC) and methyl allyl polyethenoxy ether (TPEG). The characteristics of AIDA were verified by FTIR and 1HNMR. In addition, the performances of AIDA in cement slurry including thickening time, compressive strength developments, and adaptability to long standing cementing with lager temperature differences were investigated. The results indicated that AIDA possessed excellent temperature-resistance (180 °C) and good adaptability to long standing cementing with larger temperature differences of 90 °C. Finally, the retarding mechanism of AIDA was revealed through transverse relaxation time (T2) distribution, XRD tests, and adsorption behavior of AIDA on cement particles. The results demonstrated that the stronger retarding effect of AIDA originated from the dual adsorption of AIDA on cement particles compared with AMPS-IA copolymer (PAI). AIDA outperformed PAI in its adaptability to long-term cementing, which was responsible to (a): the adsorbed amount of AIDA at higher temperature is higher than that of lower temperatures, therefore, AIDA has a stronger retarding effect at higher temperature and weaker retarding effect at lower temperature. (b) Compared to PAI, the adsorption strength of AIDA is weaker and easy to de-adsorb, so both the retarding effect and the hydration reaction of cement are realized. Thus, the super-retarding phenomenon of cement slurry containing AIDA is effectively prevented.

The effect of acidification temperature and pH on intermolecular protein bonds and water mobility in heat and acid-induced milk gels

Pre-heated milk was gelled by acidification at 60, 70, 80, and 90 °C, to pH 5.2 or 4.6. The resultant milk gels were characterised in terms of composition, molecular protein bonds, and water mobility. The protein network structure of the gels was mainly governed by calcium bonds (30–63%), independent of the acidification temperature and pH. However, acidification temperature affected the aggregation kinetics and buffer capacity of the milk. Increased temperature led to an increase in total calcium in the gels (187% and 71% for pH 5.2 and 4.6 respectively) since colloidal calcium phosphate dissociated to a lesser degree, increasing the calcium bonds in the protein structure network. The largest water population in the gels was assigned to protons entrapped within the protein network, and the transverse relaxation time decreased with both increase in acidification temperature and decrease of pH, due to the increasing density of the gel aggregates.