Sustainable foam stabilization using red mud-derived nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery and CO2 sequestration
Abstract Foam has been widely used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO2 sequestration due to its ability to improve sweep efficiency and control gas mobility. However, foam instability poses challenges for long-term applications. While nanoparticles have been explored as foam stabilizers, their h...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12229-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849333269651259392 |
|---|---|
| author | Khaled Al-Azani Mohamed Abdrabou Hussein Ahmed Farid Ibrahim |
| author_facet | Khaled Al-Azani Mohamed Abdrabou Hussein Ahmed Farid Ibrahim |
| author_sort | Khaled Al-Azani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Foam has been widely used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO2 sequestration due to its ability to improve sweep efficiency and control gas mobility. However, foam instability poses challenges for long-term applications. While nanoparticles have been explored as foam stabilizers, their high cost and limited availability hinder large-scale use. This study investigates red mud-derived nanoparticles (RMNPs), synthesized from industrial waste, as an affordable and sustainable alternative to traditional foam stabilizers. RMNPs were produced by ball milling at varying milling durations, achieving sizes below 200 nm. Characterization of the RMNPs was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), zeta potential measurements, and particle size analysis. Foaming solutions were prepared with alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS) anionic surfactant, with and without the RMNPs, in deionized water, seawater, and brines (NaCl and CaCl2), covering pH 3–11. Foam stability was evaluated via handshake tests and dynamic foam analyses using nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases. Results showed that incorporating RMNPs significantly enhanced foam stability, increasing foam half-life by up to 60% with nitrogen and 57% with CO2. Nanoparticles milled for 30 h yielded optimal performance, forming fine and uniform bubble structures. Zeta potential analysis confirmed strong hydrophilic properties of the RMNPs, promoting stability in aqueous solutions. pH sensitivity tests indicated optimal stability at pH 4–5, while highly acidic conditions (pH 3) negatively affected stability. This work highlights the potential of red mud-derived nanoparticles as a low-cost stabilizer for foam applications in EOR and CO2 sequestration, supporting further optimization under reservoir conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-18bfd0dd2f194988afeb23d13a15a589 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-18bfd0dd2f194988afeb23d13a15a5892025-08-20T03:45:55ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115112610.1038/s41598-025-12229-7Sustainable foam stabilization using red mud-derived nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery and CO2 sequestrationKhaled Al-Azani0Mohamed Abdrabou Hussein1Ahmed Farid Ibrahim2Department of Petroleum Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsInterdisciplinary Research Center for Advanced Materials, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsDepartment of Petroleum Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and MineralsAbstract Foam has been widely used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and CO2 sequestration due to its ability to improve sweep efficiency and control gas mobility. However, foam instability poses challenges for long-term applications. While nanoparticles have been explored as foam stabilizers, their high cost and limited availability hinder large-scale use. This study investigates red mud-derived nanoparticles (RMNPs), synthesized from industrial waste, as an affordable and sustainable alternative to traditional foam stabilizers. RMNPs were produced by ball milling at varying milling durations, achieving sizes below 200 nm. Characterization of the RMNPs was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), zeta potential measurements, and particle size analysis. Foaming solutions were prepared with alpha-olefin sulfonate (AOS) anionic surfactant, with and without the RMNPs, in deionized water, seawater, and brines (NaCl and CaCl2), covering pH 3–11. Foam stability was evaluated via handshake tests and dynamic foam analyses using nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases. Results showed that incorporating RMNPs significantly enhanced foam stability, increasing foam half-life by up to 60% with nitrogen and 57% with CO2. Nanoparticles milled for 30 h yielded optimal performance, forming fine and uniform bubble structures. Zeta potential analysis confirmed strong hydrophilic properties of the RMNPs, promoting stability in aqueous solutions. pH sensitivity tests indicated optimal stability at pH 4–5, while highly acidic conditions (pH 3) negatively affected stability. This work highlights the potential of red mud-derived nanoparticles as a low-cost stabilizer for foam applications in EOR and CO2 sequestration, supporting further optimization under reservoir conditions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12229-7Red mudFoamWaste managementNanoparticlesCO2 sequestrationEnhanced oil recovery |
| spellingShingle | Khaled Al-Azani Mohamed Abdrabou Hussein Ahmed Farid Ibrahim Sustainable foam stabilization using red mud-derived nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery and CO2 sequestration Scientific Reports Red mud Foam Waste management Nanoparticles CO2 sequestration Enhanced oil recovery |
| title | Sustainable foam stabilization using red mud-derived nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery and CO2 sequestration |
| title_full | Sustainable foam stabilization using red mud-derived nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery and CO2 sequestration |
| title_fullStr | Sustainable foam stabilization using red mud-derived nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery and CO2 sequestration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sustainable foam stabilization using red mud-derived nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery and CO2 sequestration |
| title_short | Sustainable foam stabilization using red mud-derived nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery and CO2 sequestration |
| title_sort | sustainable foam stabilization using red mud derived nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery and co2 sequestration |
| topic | Red mud Foam Waste management Nanoparticles CO2 sequestration Enhanced oil recovery |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12229-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT khaledalazani sustainablefoamstabilizationusingredmudderivednanoparticlesforenhancedoilrecoveryandco2sequestration AT mohamedabdrabouhussein sustainablefoamstabilizationusingredmudderivednanoparticlesforenhancedoilrecoveryandco2sequestration AT ahmedfaridibrahim sustainablefoamstabilizationusingredmudderivednanoparticlesforenhancedoilrecoveryandco2sequestration |