A New Type Surfactant for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Abstract

A new surfactant namely 2-p-alkylbenzoyl-1-carboxyethane sulfonates (ABCES) has been synthesized by Friedel-Crafts acetylation and sulfonation reaction using surfural extracted petroleum fraction. The presence of sulfo and carboxyl groups in the synthesized compound was identified by IR analysis. The critical micellar concentration (CMC) and minimum surface tension of ABCES at 20 ºC is 1.76 mg/L and 36.18 mN/m, respectively. The surfactant was superior to petroleum sulfonate (PS) which is prepared with petroleum fraction. Ultralow interfacial tension were obtained by 0.3 % ABCES solution in a 0.6-1.2 % Na₂CO₃ solution and were maintained at 0.3 % ABCES + 1.2 % Na₂CO₃ solution with Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺ concentration ≤ 600 mg/L while for PS Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺ concentration ≤ 300 mg/L. ABCES was acted as a low cost, highly tolerant to Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺ surfactant for enhanced oil recovery.