Chemical EOR: Microgels

1. Could microgels (soft gel particles with 3-D network structure in the size of microns, whose physical status wavers between colloid particles and polymers in a solvent) effectively stabilize emulsions (Mickering Emulsions as against conventional Pickering Emulsions stabilized by solid particles) in an oil-water system?

Whether microgelation would significantly elevate the interfacial pressure and modulus @ oil-water interface (in EOR application)?

In case, if it ends up with a mitigated dilatational modulus, then,

would it maintain a stable anti-deformation ability (during amplitude sweep) in an oil-water system?

2. Can we efficiently utilize the viscoelastic nature of microgels that permits them to stretch and deform; and which in turn leads to an enhanced adsorption section area @ oil-water interface that would make us better understand the interfacial behavior of microgels and its associated fundamental mechanism associated with the stability of the interface and emulsion?

Whether the traditional linear rheology will be able reflect the complete details on the interfacial viscoelasticity,

especially @ higher frequencies and @ large amplitudes

(as against the traditional small amplitude oscillation,

where non-linear responses @ high deformation and high deformation rate remain ignored)?

Will it end up with a relatively low degree of non-linearity under significant ionic strength (with acidic and basic dominant scenarios),

while, enhancing emulsifying capacity and improving the interfacial viscoelasticity in an oil-water system?

3. With an enhanced specific surface area and with an elevated exposure of hydrophobic groups on the surface, to what extent, would it remain feasible to capture the details on

(a) microgel diffusion in the bulk phase;

(b) adsorption;

(c) distortion of microgels @ interface; &

(d) reorganization of microgel aggregates within the surface?

Suresh Kumar Govindarajan

Professor (HAG)

31-Aug-2024

https://iitm.irins.org/profile/61643