A lysine amino acid-based surfactant: Application in enhanced oil recovery

ABSTRACT

Surfactants can play major role in increasing oil recovery factor through interfacial tension reduction. In the present study, a new synthetic method was used to prepare (S)-2-amino-6-dodecanamidohexanoic acid, an amino acid–based surfactant then it was applied as an oil recovery agent for the first time. The structure of this surfactant was studied using FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The critical micelle concentration was found to be value is 0.4–0.5 wt% using surfactant solution conductivity, pH, and IFT methods. A 56.50% reduction of IFT was recorded using this environmentally friendly surfactant.

KEYWORDS:

• Critical micelle concentration
• enhanced oil recovery
• interfacial tension
• surfactant