Influence of Magnesium and Sulfate Ions on Wettability Alteration of Calcite, Quartz, and Kaolinite: Surface Energy Analysis

Abstract

The effects of SO4 2- and Mg2+ on the adsorption/displacement of stearic acid (SA), N,N-dimethyldodecylamine (NN-DMDA) and asphaltene, as oil soluble additives, onto or from calcite, quartz, and clay minerals are addressed in this paper. Thermal gravimetric analysis, isothermal water vapor adsorption, and contact angle methods are used to determine the extent of surface modification and evaluate the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the modified powders and minerals, respectively. The experimental results of the modified mineral surfaces are analyzed using a suggested wettability index based on water vapor adsorption isotherm and contact angle. It is interesting to observe that SO4 2- and Mg2+ ions enhance hydrophilicity characteristic of the modified calcite surface while SO4 2- ions have insignificant effect on adsorption of the tested polar components on the silicate minerals. Mg2+ ions enhance the hydrophilicity of quartz and kaolinite surfaces modified by N,N-dimethyldodecylamine. On the other hand Mg2+ ions increase the hydrophobicity of silicate minerals when asphaltene is the surface modifying component. This may be due to bridging of the hydrated Mg2+ ions with asphaltene. The suggested bridging mechanism is also consistent in the case of alteration of calcite surface with asphaltene, however to lesser extent due to the more affinity toward calcite surfaces.

Comparing contact and immersion freezing from continuous flow diffusion chambers

“…On the siloxane surface, ice nucleates via an ordered arrangement of hexagonal and cubic ice layers, joined at their basal planes, where the interfacial energy cost is low. Experimentally, much higher adsorption was determined, showing that most adsorption probably occurs on surface irregularities such as adsorbed ions or surface defects like trenches, pits and steps (Schuttlefield et al, 2007;Tabrizy et al, 2011). Croteau et al (2010) have shown that adsorption is much higher on trenches than on the defect-free surface.…”

“…At 33 % RH, contact angles ranged between 23.3 and 34.2 • for illites saturated with different cations (Na, K, Mg or Ca). Contact angles of 31-35 • were measured for quartz (Szyszka, 2012). When we sprinkled ATD on a water surface, most particles were immediately immersed and sank to the bottom.…”

Experimental investigation of SiO2 nanoparticles on enhanced oil recovery of carbonate reservoirs

“…Addition of chemical agents can modify rock wettability and therefore, increases the efficiency of waterflooding process. Numerous experimental works have been published discussing the role of chemical agents in wettability alteration of porous media Strand et al 2003;Standnes and Austad 2003;Hognesen et al 2004;Mohan et al 2011;Ravari et al 2011;Tabrizy et al 2011). However, the role of Nanoparticles in this field is still in its infancy and consequently has attracted the attention of many researchersin last decade due to their specific characteristics (Ju et al 2002(Ju et al , 2006Shen and Resasco 2009;Zhang et al 2010;Suleimanov et al 2011).…”

Adsorption of tetradecanoic acid on kaolinite minerals: Using flash pyrolysis to characterise the catalytic efficiency of clay mineral adsorbed fatty acids

“…Understanding adsorption of carboxylic acids on clay minerals is important as these compounds act as a bridge between the mineral surfaces and the bitumen-kerogen matrix (Sener and Senguler 1998, Dyni 2003, Pearson et al 2005 and their presence in crude oil might alter the solid surface wettability (Tabrizy et al 2011). Previously, few studies demonstrated the adsorption of fatty acids on clay minerals (Meyers and Quinn 1971a, Meyers and Quinn 1973, Balistrieri and Murray 1987, Bayrak 2006, Gautier et al 2009, Drouin et al 2010) and a few simulation studies were conducted by mixing of clay minerals and fatty acids (Nierop and van Bergen 2002, Faure et al 2006a, Faure et al 2006b).…”