The effects of controlling parameters on polymer enhanced foam (PEF) stability

Abstract

In the present study, four surfactants including AOS, SDS, SDBS, and TX100 were used as the foaming agent and a PHPA polymer with relatively low to high concentrations was added to the solutions prepared in both fresh water and 8 wt. % NaCl. Also, paraffin and vaseline oils with different viscosities were used to investigate the effect of oil on PEF stability. Polymer addition to foam can effectively improve foam stability compared with conventional foam stability. In addition, the polymer concentration increase could lead to foam stability increase; thus, the maximum polymer concentration in solutions could produce the most stable foam. Solutions with 8 wt. % NaCl had destabilizing effect, that is, unlike solutions with fresh water, it slightly reduced foam stability. Contacted oil in the solutions could substantially reduce foam stability. Also, the destabilizing effect was more severe with paraffin oil rather than vaseline oil. Of all the four surfactants used in this research, SDS had the highest compatibility with PHPA and produced the most stable foam, while AOS, SDBS, and finally TX100 surfactants were in next orders. In addition, microscopic photos showed that the type of solution has a significant effect on bubble size and foam stability