Effects of water‐soluble polymers and aqueous‐phase viscosity on the interfacial tension behavior of reacting oil–alkaline systems

Abstract

SYNOPSISThis study presents the results of an experimental study of the effects of water-soluble polymer additives on the dynamic interfacial tension behavior of reacting oil-aqueous systems as measured by the spinning drop tensiometer. Polymer additives can exert both a direct physico-chemical effect and an indirect viscosity effect on the measured interfacial tension. This work, which complements a n earlier study dealing with the effects of oilsoluble polymer additives, reveals that the nominal effects of aqueous-phase viscosity are opposite to those of oil-phase viscosity. In particular, an increase in aqueous-phase viscosity produces an increase in the rate of increase of the apparent interfacial tension after attainment of the minimum value. These differences are explained in terms of the dependence of diffusion rates and interfacial adsorption on aqueous-phase viscosity. The conclusion of principal practical interest is that although aqueous-phase viscosity exerts only a small effect on the dynamic interfacial tension at small times (i.e., prior to attainment of the minimum value) it exerts a very significant effect thereafter.

Physicochemical behavior of mixed surfactant systems: Petroleum sulfonate and lignosulfonate

“…4 Past research in this laboratory has focused on LS as an additive to PS in enhanced oil recovery. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Hornof studied the effect of adding LS to PS on interfacial tension (IFT) against various hydrocarbons. Their results showed that the largest reduction of IFT was observed with n-heptane, regardless of the surfactant formulations.…”

“…11 In another study, water-soluble polymer additives significantly influenced the dynamic IFT behavior of a reacting oil-water system as monitored by spinning drop tensiometer measurements. 14 IFT decreased as the concentration of water-soluble polymer [poly(vinyl alcohol) or polyacrylamide] additive increased in the case of linoleic acid in a paraffin oil mixture against distilled water, whereas the IFT increased as the concentration of water-soluble polymer additive increased in the case of linoleic acid in a paraffin oil mixture against aqueous NaOH solution.…”

“…Past research in this laboratory has focused on LS as an additive to PS in enhanced oil recovery 5–14. Hornof studied the effect of adding LS to PS on interfacial tension (IFT) against various hydrocarbons.…”