The alkali-free surfactant−polymer flooding system with ultralow interfacial tensions is still a challenge to enhance oil recovery at present. In this study, a new thermally stable and salt tolerant biopolymer (HS-EPS) was obtained from thje broth of Sphingomonas sp. HS, a newly isolated strain (CGMCC No. 22954). Compared to HPAM, the elasticity of HS-EPS was dominant which is conducive to enhancing oil recovery. The HS-EPS showed good viscosity stability at salinities up to 360 g/L of NaCl, 60 g/L of Ca 2+ , and 60 g/L of Mg 2+ , temperatures up to 90 °C, and pH 4−10. Meanwhile, a new alkali-free surfactant−polymer binary system was developed using HS-EPS and a biobased surfactant newly synthesized in our laboratory. The interfacial tension between this binary flooding system and Daqing crude oil was below 10 −2 mN/m with 100 g/L of NaCl, 400 mg/L of Ca 2+ , or at a temperature of 80 °C. In addition, this binary system possesses a good oil sand adsorption resistance, dilution resistance, and aging stability. These results demonstrate that the new biopolymer HS-EPS secreted by Sphingomonas sp. HS is promising in oil recovery in the alkali-free flooding system.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.