Date-leaf carbon micro-nanostructured particles DLCMNPs for enhance oil recovery

To make proper utilization of natural resources, we try to explore the enhanced oil recovery (EOR) potential of the date leaf as the date tree is available all over the Saudi Arab as well as the Middle East. The aims of the study are to develop carbon nanoparticle from green Date-leaf and apply in EOR process. Date-leaf carbon micro-nanostructured particles (DLCMNPs) were prepared from date leaves using pyrolysis method. After that, carboxylic acid functionalization was performed by acid treatment to make water soluble. Finally, morphological and chemical compositional characterizations of the DLCMNPs were done. Interfacial tension (IFT) between Arab light crude oil and DLCMNPs was measured using ASTM D 971-99a method [1] to find out the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and do core flood experiment. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopic (FESEM) images revealed that the carbon particles are in the range of few μm to 20 μm and are micro-nanostructured (i.e the micro-particles composed from nanosheets). The Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) indicates the presence of oxygen and little amount of silicon in addition to carbon in the particles. The TEM images indicated that the particles are porous in nature and contain nanosheets which correlate the findings of FESEM study. The selected area diffraction (SAED) pattern showed that the particles are crystalline in nature. XPS analysis of the DLCMNPs found that the presence of Si, C and O which was similar to the observation of EDS analysis. It also confirmed that the DLCMNPs is carboxylated functionalized. IFT between Arab Light crude oil and different concentrations of DLCMNPs solutions with distilled water were measured to determine the CMC. It was found that the particle has the capability to reduce IFT significantly. Core flood are going to conduct to explore the oil recovery potential. The novelty of this work are: (1) the DLCMNPs are invented from low cost and locally available biomass, and (2) it has the capability to reduce IFT which is a vital parameter of EOR process.