Potentially harmful condition in binary surfactant blends and polymer solutions for surfactant-polymer (SP)/ alkalisurfactant- polymer (ASP) designs

Potentially harmful conditions in binary surfactant blends and polymer solutions for surfactant-polymer (SP)/alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) designs are studied. Effects of temperature, divalent ions, and surfactant adsorption on phase behavior and emulsion stability are studied to evaluate surfactant performance in a binary surfactant/crude oil system. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum is employed to determine surfactant concentration. From the adsorption results, a new technique has been developed to determine critical micelle concentrations (CMC). As one of the major impurities in hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM), sodium acrylate's effects on emulsion stability were also studied. As an emerging topic, the relationship between emulsion stability and interfacial viscoelasticity is explored and discussed.