Polymer flooding (PF) and alkaline/surfactant/polymer (ASP) flooding have been applied throughout the world for more than 20 years.

No abstract

In this study, the effect of surfactant conditioning on bound water and extracellular polymers substances (EPS) in sludge was investigated.Results showed that by adding dodecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC), loosely bound EPS (LB-EPS) and slime layer EPS (S-EPS) contents were increased, while tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS) and bound water contents (W B ) were reduced. As a result, the dewatering performance of sludge was enhanced. When 75 mg g À1 of DDBAC were added, W B in sludge decreased to 1.64 g g À1 , and the water content of dewatered sludge (W C ) dropped to 66.61%. EPS partially hydrolyzed into small molecular organics under DDBAC conditioning.Moreover, the quantity and species of organic functional groups in S-EPS were increased obviously. The TB-EPS content accounted for the majority of EPS in sludge, and the protein and polysaccharide in TB-EPS had a significant positive correlation with bound water, which was the main factor affecting W B in sludge.

A 1% w/v concentration of calcium chloride provides the optimum conditions for achieving suitably strong fibres with adequate absorption capacity, while allowing the least branan ferulate loss during wash and post-production treatments. In a laboratory setting the product showed promise. Research is now needed in a clinical setting and for comparison with existing wound-care products.