Modified Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Foam Stabilization: Mechanisms and Applications for Enhanced Oil Recovery
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Materials
2.2. Methods
2.2.1. Modification of Fe3O4 NPs
2.2.2. Characterization Techniques
2.2.3. Evaluation of Foam Stabilization and NPs Recovery
2.2.4. Adsorption of NPs on Liquid Films
2.2.5. Microscopic Oil Displacement Experiment
3. Results
3.1. Characterization of NPs
3.1.1. Morphological Analysis
3.1.2. FTIR Analysis
3.2. Analysis of Surface Hydrophobicity and Foam-Stabilization Ability of Modified NPs
3.2.1. Analysis of Surface Hydrophobicity of Modified NPs
3.2.2. Analysis of Foam-Stabilization Ability of Modified NPs
3.2.3. Adsorption of NPs on Foam Surfaces
3.3. Recyclability of NPs
3.4. Microscopic Oil Displacement Mechanism of Modified NPs
4. Conclusions
- (1)
- The characterization of the prepared NPs and foam stability evaluation showed that Fe3O4@SiO2-1.0 NPs with a contact angle of 77.01° had the best foam-stabilization performance, significantly improving foam stability. The optimal foam system consisted of 1 wt% NPs (77.01°) + 0.2 wt% SDS, with a drainage half-life of 452 s and an initial foam volume of 510 mL.
- (2)
- Confocal laser scanning microscopy experiments showed that the modified Fe3O4@SiO2 NPs were adsorbed on the bubble surface, forming a three-dimensional network structure between armored bubbles, thereby enhancing foam stability. A static foam stability evaluation indicated that the optimal number of NP recovery cycles was three, and Fe3O4@SiO2 NPs responded quickly to magnetic fields.
- (3)
- Microscopic visual oil displacement experiments demonstrated that, compared with AOS foam alone, Fe3O4@SiO2-1000 NP-stabilized foam had a higher ability to mobilize residual oil. The foam’s strong stability blocked large pores, allowing subsequent fluids to enter small pores, emulsifying and mobilizing clustered residual oil. The dense adsorption of modified Fe3O4 NPs at the liquid film interface significantly enhances film strength, enabling bubbles to undergo elastic deformation rather than rupture when passing through pore throats, emulsifying and peeling off membranous residual oil and pushing it out. Bubbles entered dead-end pores through high viscoelastic deformation, carrying out residual oil. Compared with the water flooding recovery rate of 42.07%, the modified NP-stabilized foam achieved a recovery rate of 75.40%, an increase of 33.33%, effectively mobilizing residual oil.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Yin, D.; Qiu, J.; Zhao, D.; Wang, Y.; Huang, T.; Long, Y.; Huang, X. Modified Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Foam Stabilization: Mechanisms and Applications for Enhanced Oil Recovery. Nanomaterials 2025, 15, 395. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15050395
Yin D, Qiu J, Zhao D, Wang Y, Huang T, Long Y, Huang X. Modified Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Foam Stabilization: Mechanisms and Applications for Enhanced Oil Recovery. Nanomaterials. 2025; 15(5):395. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15050395
Chicago/Turabian StyleYin, Dandan, Judong Qiu, Dongfeng Zhao, Yongzheng Wang, Tao Huang, Yunqian Long, and Xiaohe Huang. 2025. "Modified Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Foam Stabilization: Mechanisms and Applications for Enhanced Oil Recovery" Nanomaterials 15, no. 5: 395. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15050395
APA StyleYin, D., Qiu, J., Zhao, D., Wang, Y., Huang, T., Long, Y., & Huang, X. (2025). Modified Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Foam Stabilization: Mechanisms and Applications for Enhanced Oil Recovery. Nanomaterials, 15(5), 395. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15050395