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    Encapsulation of an Anionic Surfactant into Hollow Spherical Nanosized Capsules: Size Control, Slow Release, and Potential Use for Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications and Environmental Remediation

    Year: 2021

    Journal: ACS Omega, Volume 6, MAR 2, page 5689–5697

    Authors: Alsmaeil, Ahmed Wasel; Hammami, Mohammed Amen; Enotiadis, Apostolos; Kanj, Mazen Yousef; Giannelis, Emmanuel P.

    Organizations: Saudi Aramco; College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals; NSF MRSEC program [DMR-171987]

    A new platform that allows encapsulation of anionic surfactants into nanosized capsules and subsequent release upon deployment is described. The system is based on DOWFAX surfactant molecules incorporated into sub-100 nm hollow silica nanoparticles composed of a mesoporous shell. The particles released 40 wt % of the encapsulated surfactant at 70 degrees C compared to 24 wt % at 25 degrees C after 21 and 18 days, respectively. The use of the particles for subsurface applications is assessed by studying the effectiveness of the particles to alter the wettability of hydrophobic surfaces and reduction of the interfacial tension. The release of the surfactant molecules in the suspension reduces the contact angle of a substrate from 105 to 25 degrees over 55 min. A sustained release profile is demonstrated by a continuous reduction of the interfacial tension of an oil suspension, where the interfacial tension is reduced from 62 to 2 mN m(-1) over a period of 3 days.
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