Nanoparticles Enhance Stability of Oil-in-Water Emulsions

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Inha University have made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of nanoparticles, revealing their potential applications in the oil and gas industry. According to their study, Pickering emulsions, stabilized by nanoparticles, offer promising solutions for high-temperature applications due to their enhanced stability. The investigation highlights the synergistic interaction between nanoparticles, surfactants, and polymers at the oil-water interface, leading to improved thermal stability.

Key Takeaways:

  • The novel formulation of oil-in-water emulsions stabilized using a nanoparticle-surfactant-polymer system shows enhanced thermal stability, making it suitable for high-temperature applications.
  • The addition of partially hydrophobic clay nanoparticles in the presence of polyacrylamide (PAM) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) increases the thermal stability of the emulsion system compared to fully hydrophilic SiO2 nanoparticles.
  • The presence of salt (NaCl) promotes thermal stability of clay and SiO2 stabilized emulsions at higher temperatures.
  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirm the existence of a structured and rigid layer of nanoparticles at the oil-water interface.
  • The study highlights the potential application of nanoparticle-stabilized emulsions in the oil and gas industry, particularly in high-temperature processes.
  • The research team, led by T. Sharma, Inha University, involves additional authors, including G.S. Kumar, B.H. Chon, and J.S. Sangwai.

Statistics:

  • 22 JUN 2015: The date of the news report by VerticalNews.
  • 22 JUN 2015: The publication date of the research article in the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry.
  • 324-334: The page numbers of the research article in the Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry volume 22.
  • 1.0 wt%: The concentration of NaCl used to promote thermal stability of clay and SiO2 stabilized emulsions.
  • 360 Park Ave South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA: The contact address for Elsevier Science Inc.

Sources:

  • VerticalNews, 22 JUN 2015
  • Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2015;22():324-334
  • Elsevier Science Inc, 360 Park Ave South, New York, NY 10010-1710, USA.