Janus Carbon Nanofluids From Waste Plastic for Enhanced Oil Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current nanofluids for enhanced oil recovery face challenges in fluid-fluid and fluid-rock interactions, and plastic waste degradation is a significant environmental concern.

Innovation Solution

A method to prepare Janus carbon nanoparticles from waste plastic by carbonizing, functionalizing with a SO3-containing gas, and grinding to create a hydrophilic-hydrophobic surface, which are then used in an EOR composition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional nanofluids are used for enhanced oil recovery, then oil displacement is improved through wettability alteration and interfacial tension change, but fluid-fluid and fluid-rock interactions are constrained by limited surface property control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil recovery efficiencyVSAvoidfluid-fluid and fluid-rock interactions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating Janus nanoparticles with asymmetric surface properties, where one hemisphere is hydrophilic and the other is hydrophobic. This asymmetric surface functionality enables the particles to simultaneously interact with both water and oil phases, as well as with rock surfaces, thereby improving adaptability in fluid-fluid and fluid-rock interactions while maintaining enhanced oil recovery performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If waste plastic is carbonized and functionalized to create Janus carbon nanoparticles, then sustainable and cost-effective nanomaterial is produced, but the synthesis process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesustainability and cost-effectivenessVSAvoidsynthesis process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts waste plastic, which is an environmental hazard, into valuable Janus carbon nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery. By carbonizing waste plastic and functionalizing it with sulfonic acid groups, the process transforms a harmful waste stream into a sustainable, cost-effective nanomaterial that performs superior to conventional nanofluids, thereby addressing both environmental and economic concerns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If Janus carbon nanoparticles with hydrophilic-hydrophobic surface are created, then wettability alteration and interfacial tension change are enhanced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewettability alteration and interfacial tension changeVSAvoidsurface functionality control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by first carbonizing the waste plastic to form a stable carbon matrix, then subsequently functionalizing the surface with sulfonic acid groups through controlled chemical reactions. This sequential approach allows for precise control over the hydrophilic-hydrophobic surface distribution, ensuring the desired Janus structure is achieved before the particles are deployed for enhanced oil recovery operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method addresses both energy needs and environmental protection by enhancing oil recovery through improved wettability and interfacial tension alteration, utilizing a sustainable and cost-effective nanomaterial derived from waste plastic.

Implementation Method 1

functionalizing the carbon microparticles with a SO3-containing gas such that the carbon microparticles comprise a hydrophilic surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSulfonation: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

nanomaterials may be used in oil flooding techniques, often referred to as nanofluid flooding, to improve oil displacement. One advantage of nanofluids arises from the small size of the included nanomaterials, that are able to alter the wettability of the reservoir rocks

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWettability alteration: Wetting

Implementation Method 3

change interfacial tension (IFT) at water-oil interface to increase oil recovery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInterfacial tension change: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentUS12606733B2Sulfonation method for efficient scaleup synthesis of Janus carbon nanofluids from waste plastics

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

A method of preparing an enhanced oil recovery composition is described. The method includes carbonizing a waste plastic material to provide carbon microparticles, functionalizing the carbon microparticles with a SO3-containing gas such that the carbon microparticles have a hydrophilic surface, and grinding the carbon microparticles to provide carbon nanoparticles. The carbon nanoparticles have a hydrophilic surface and a hydrophobic surface. A method of enhanced oil recovery is also described.