Surfactants for producing low interfacial tensions: II. Linear alkylbenzenesulfonates with additional alkyl substituents

Abstract

The synthesis and low interfacial tension behavior of a variety of di-and trialkylbenzenesulfonates are described. The benzene ring carries one major alkyl substituent, consisting of a linear chain eight to sixteen carbon atoms long, and one or two additional methyl, ethyl, propyl, i-propyl, butyl, or t-butyl groups. The addition of these extra groups causes the low interfacial tensions to shift to higher molecular weight alkanes when compared to the parent linear alkylbenzenesulfonate. Surfactants in these structural classes can give very low interracial tensions against those alkanes which best model the behavior of crude oils, but this is influenced by the number and type of the short alkyl substituents. These surfactant structures are more attractive from the point of view of tertiary oil recovery than linear alkylbenzenesulfonates.

Action of hydrotropes and alkyl-hydrotropes

“…68 The surfactants used in this study were linear ABS having 8 to 16 carbon atom linear alkyl chains. These molecules had one or two alkyl substituents that could have methyl, ethyl, propyl, i-propyl, butyl or t-butyl groups on the benzene ring.…”

Studies of Synergism/Antagonism for Lowering Interfacial Tensions in Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate Mixtures

“…However, another important question, how to get the best performance from given surfactant, cannot be solved by the n min and EACN concepts. Doe et al [14][15][16][17][18] developed rules of thumb, using their concept of an ''alkane preference curve.'' This refers to a plot of the minimum IFT, c min , versus the ACN for minimum tension, n min .…”

1-Phenylalkane Sulfonates for Studying Interfacial Tensions

“…These operations aimed at enhanced oil recovery (EOR) from conventionally depleted reservoirs are termed ''tertiary''. Doe et al (1977;1978a;1978b) prepared monoisomeric alkyl benzene sulfonates of high purity first time in the history in seventies, no such samples were synthesized so far. Surfactant systems which can lower the interfacial tension between an oil and water to very low values with the order of 10 À3 dyn cm À1 referred to as a necessary qualification for surfactant flooding, were studied extensively (Zhang et al, 2000;Qiao et al, 1999;Neale et al, 1981;Chiwetelu et al, 1980).…”