Scientists from Penn State have developed a brand new nanoparticle that may stabilize and stop scaling in a generally used emulsion or liquid combination. This breakthrough might result in extra sustainable and environment friendly oil extraction strategies and be utilized to different methods that deal with water-oil emulsions. The analysis was revealed in ACS Utilized Supplies & Interfaces.
The buildup of arduous mineral deposits in pipes and tools throughout oil extraction may cause vital operational points, security hazards similar to pipe explosions, and substantial monetary losses. Present descaling strategies, nevertheless, typically have opposed environmental impacts.
We aimed to sort out the problem of calcium carbonate formation, often called scaling, in two-phase oil-water methods, handled in quite a few water-based industries, similar to oil and gasoline sectors.
Amir Sheikhi, Affiliate Professor and Research Corresponding Creator, Division of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State College
Sheikhi, the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Early Profession Chair in Biomaterials and Regenerative Engineering, explains that in industries like oil and gasoline, prescription drugs, cosmetics, and meals, water typically coexists with an immiscible section, similar to oil or an natural solvent, forming a two-phase system. Scaling on this system can result in critical operational and security hazards, similar to clogged pipelines and broken tools.
“Current anti-scaling solutions either have adverse environmental impacts or are limited to working only in single-phase aqueous media,” Sheikhi mentioned.
Initially, Sheikhi and his crew developed anionic bushy cellulose nanocrystals (AHCNC), a cellulose-based nanoparticle that might forestall scale formation however couldn’t stabilize water-in-oil emulsions.
They then superior their analysis by creating a brand new class of biobased, multifunctional nanoparticles known as amphiphilic bushy cellulose nanocrystals (AmHCNC). These nanoparticles possess distinctive chemical and structural properties that not solely forestall scale buildup but in addition stabilize water-in-oil emulsions, generally utilized in oil extraction processes.
Our innovation lies within the nanoengineering of a sort of nanoparticle AmHCNC that concurrently prevents scaling and stabilizes water-in-oil emulsions through the Pickering mechanism, a mix that has not been achieved.
Amir Sheikhi, Affiliate Professor and Research Corresponding Creator, Division of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State College
Sheikhi defined that the Pickering mechanism makes use of small stable particles, similar to nanoparticles, to stabilize the interface between two immiscible liquids.
These anti-scaling particles are bio-based, environmentally secure, and cost-effective, providing a sustainable resolution to the longstanding industrial downside of scaling.
Amir Sheikhi, Affiliate Professor and Research Corresponding Creator, Division of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State College
The researchers are actually searching for collaborators to check the expertise in real-world functions, similar to enhanced oil restoration. In addition they plan to discover its potential makes use of in different industries, together with meals and cosmetics.
“This technology may provide new opportunities for sustainable and safer industrial practices,” mentioned Sheikhi, who additionally has a courtesy appointment with the Division of Biomedical Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering, the Division of Chemistry within the Eberly Faculty of Science, and The Division of Neurosurgery within the Faculty of Drugs.
Journal Reference:
Koshani, R., et al. (2024) Antiscaling Pickering Emulsions Enabled by Amphiphilic Bushy Cellulose Nanocrystals. ACS Utilized Supplies & Interfaces. doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c03451.
Supply:
The Pennsylvania State College