Emerging technologies, such as nanofluids comprised of liquid suspensions of environmentally sustainable inorganic nanoparticles or �green cleaners�, and �smart fluids�, may soon allow cleaning of soiled hard surfaces and accelerating recovery of hydrocarbon and stimulation fluids from oil and gas reservoirs. Typically, detergents or surfactants, which are derived from petroleum products, and which are both expensive and environmentally unfriendly, are used in cleaning soiled surfaces and enhancing the recovery of oil and gas well stimulation fluids. Recent experiments conducted at IIT have revealed that nanoparticles (or surfactant micelles) form 2-D layered structures in the three-phase contact region of a liquid wedge film formed between an oily soil and a solid substrate. The nanoparticle structuring phenomenon gives rise to the structural disjoining pressure (a force normal to the interface) in the wedge film, thereby enhancing the spreading of nanofluids on solid surface, detaching the oil drop. This talk will highlight new paradigms in spreading and wetting dynamics of nanofluids on solid surfaces, and present proof- of- concept for decontaminating soiled surfaces and EOR.

Green nanofluids for decontaminating soiled surfaces and enhanced oil recovery

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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