J. Rudin et al., EFFECT OF ADDED SURFACTANT ON INTERFACIAL-TENSION AND SPONTANEOUS EMULSIFICATION IN ALKALI ACIDIC OIL SYSTEMS/, Industrial & engineering chemistry research, 33(5), 1994, pp. 1150-1158
An experimental investigation of the buffered surfactant-enhanced alka
line flooding system chemistry was undertaken to determine the influen
ce of various species present on interfacial tension as a function of
pH and ionic strength. Phase behavior tests that monitor the extent of
emulsification are sufficient to determine the region of low interfac
ial tension. Optimization of interfacial tension by adjustment of the
ionic strength alone may not necessarily provide the lowest interfacia
l tension under the best conditions. The pH should be simultaneously o
ptimized along with ionic strength to allow better control over attain
ment of low interfacial tension. The dominant mechanism by which added
surfactant aids in the reduction of interfacial tension is the format
ion of mixed micelles with the ionized acid. Although added surfactant
partitioning from the influence of the un-ionized acid and ionic stre
ngth will affect interfacial behavior, the formation of mixed micelles
plays a dominant role. Middle-phase formation is possible with a low
acid oil using a petroleum sulfonate at a proper pH and ionic strength
.