TY - JOUR
T1 - Antiscaling Pickering Emulsions Enabled by Amphiphilic Hairy Cellulose Nanocrystals
AU - Koshani, Roya
AU - Yeh, Shang Lin
AU - Pitcher, Mica L.
AU - Sheikhi, Amir
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 American Chemical Society
PY - 2024/8/14
Y1 - 2024/8/14
N2 - Nucleation and growth of sparingly soluble salts, referred to as scaling, has posed substantial challenges in industrial processes that deal with multiphase flows, including enhanced oil recovery (EOR). During crude oil extraction/recovery, seawater is injected into oil reservoirs and yields water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions that may undergo calcium carbonate (CaCO3) scaling. Common antiscaling macromolecules and nanoparticles have adverse environmental impacts and/or are limited to functioning only in single-phase aqueous media. Here, we develop a novel antiscaling cellulose-based nanoparticle that enables scale-resistant Pickering emulsions. Cellulose fibrils are rationally nanoengineered to yield amphiphilic hairy cellulose nanocrystals (AmHCNC), bearing hydrophilic dicarboxylate groups and hydrophobic alkyl chains on disordered cellulose chains (hairs) protruding from nanocrystal ends. The unique chemical and structural properties of AmHCNC render them the first dual functional antiscaling and emulsion stabilizing nanoparticle. AmHCNC stabilize W/O Pickering emulsions at a concentration of 1.00 wt % for 1 week while inhibiting CaCO3 scale formation up to 70% by mass at a supersaturation degree of ∼101 compared with the synthetic surfactant Span 80. To the best of our knowledge, this study presents the first biopolymer-based solution for the long-lasting scaling challenge in multiphase media, which may set the stage for developing sustainable scale-resistant multiphase flows in a broad spectrum of industrial sectors.
AB - Nucleation and growth of sparingly soluble salts, referred to as scaling, has posed substantial challenges in industrial processes that deal with multiphase flows, including enhanced oil recovery (EOR). During crude oil extraction/recovery, seawater is injected into oil reservoirs and yields water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions that may undergo calcium carbonate (CaCO3) scaling. Common antiscaling macromolecules and nanoparticles have adverse environmental impacts and/or are limited to functioning only in single-phase aqueous media. Here, we develop a novel antiscaling cellulose-based nanoparticle that enables scale-resistant Pickering emulsions. Cellulose fibrils are rationally nanoengineered to yield amphiphilic hairy cellulose nanocrystals (AmHCNC), bearing hydrophilic dicarboxylate groups and hydrophobic alkyl chains on disordered cellulose chains (hairs) protruding from nanocrystal ends. The unique chemical and structural properties of AmHCNC render them the first dual functional antiscaling and emulsion stabilizing nanoparticle. AmHCNC stabilize W/O Pickering emulsions at a concentration of 1.00 wt % for 1 week while inhibiting CaCO3 scale formation up to 70% by mass at a supersaturation degree of ∼101 compared with the synthetic surfactant Span 80. To the best of our knowledge, this study presents the first biopolymer-based solution for the long-lasting scaling challenge in multiphase media, which may set the stage for developing sustainable scale-resistant multiphase flows in a broad spectrum of industrial sectors.
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U2 - 10.1021/acsami.4c03451
DO - 10.1021/acsami.4c03451
M3 - Article
C2 - 39102562
AN - SCOPUS:85200591604
SN - 1944-8244
VL - 16
SP - 42802
EP - 42815
JO - ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
JF - ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
IS - 32
ER -