Synthesis and characterization of a novel β-cyclodextrin-based acrylamide copolymer

Abstract

Enhanced oil recovery has gained increasing importance for oil industry. Polymer flooding is already widely applied, most often using polyacrylamide. However, the use of this polymer is limited by its heat resistance and salt tolerance. In the present work modifications have been made to improve the performance of polyacrylamide. Cyclodextrin (CD) and its inclusion complex based on the guest-host model theory is widely used in analytical chemistry, agriculture, the pharmaceutical field, oil industry and other fields. β-CD is observed to incorporate hydrophobic molecules to form inclusion complexes selectively. In this work polyacrylamide has been modified with β-CD and other hydrophobic groups. Allyl dodecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide and allyl-β- cyclodextrin were synthesized and introduced into the polyacrylamide chain. Acrylamide homopolymer and a group of copolymers were produced by free-radical polymerization. In the copolymer, guest hydrophobic molecules and the β-CDs form inclusion complexes and contribute to an interior associative network and, therefore an increased solution viscosity. Additionally, these copolymers exhibited better water solubility compared with homopolymer due to the charged hydrophobic side group. Fourier Transform - Infrared Spectrometry was used to determine polymer structure. Viscosity and viscosity-average molecular weight of these polymers were measured by an Ubbelohde Viscometer, and their structures were observed directly through Scanning Electron Microscopy. The thermal behavior of the copolymer was investigated by Thermogravimetric Analysis. In addition, rheological properties of the copolymer and polyacrylamide solution were compared. The shear resistance, thermal stability and salinity tolerance of these polymer solutions were also examined.

Date of Award	2015
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Sulafudin Slavko Vukusic (Supervisor)