Investigation of the Effects of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Concentration and Sonication Time on the Performance of EOR Nanofluids

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29017/scog.v49i3.2162

Keywords:

enhanced oil recovery, Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, nanofluid, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sonication time

Abstract

The rising global energy demand drives the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies. Nanofluids based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) stabilized by the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) can improve oil recovery by altering rock wettability and increasing the viscosity of the injected fluid. This study investigates the effects of two synthesis parameters of the MWCNT/SDS nanofluid in two stages: MWCNT mass concentration and sonication time. In the first stage, nanofluids were synthesized at varied MWCNT concentrations (0.0002–0.001 g/100 mL) under 20 minutes of sonication. In the second stage, the best-performing concentration was used while the sonication time was varied (10–60 minutes). Nanofluid performance was evaluated through contact angle, viscosity, and colloidal stability tests. The results show that increasing the MWCNT concentration decreased the contact angle from 47.73° to 31.22° and increased the viscosity from 0.9414 to 1.0384 cP. At the best-performing concentration (0.001 g/100 mL), prolonging the sonication time reduced the contact angle to 19.22° at 60 minutes, increased the viscosity to 1.0770 cP, and improved the colloidal stability (stable up to 36 hours). The combination of an MWCNT concentration of 0.001 g/100 mL and a sonication time of 60 minutes produced the MWCNT/SDS nanofluid with the best characteristics within the tested range for EOR applications.

Author Biography

  • Agus Subagio, Universitas Diponegoro

    Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia

References

Abdolahi, F., Heydarinasab, A., Rashidi, A., Ardjmand, M., & Mohseni, M. M. J. S. R. (2025). Thermal and rheological performance of behran oil-based nanofluids with functionalized BN, CN, and BCN nanoparticles. 15(1), 31662. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16956-9

Asadi, A., & Alarifi, I. M. J. S. r. (2020). Effects of ultrasonication time on stability, dynamic viscosity, and pumping power management of MWCNT-water nanofluid: An experimental study. 10(1), 15182. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-71978-9

Bathali, M., Sharma, T., Kamil, M., Yusuf, M., & Ibrahim, H. J. E. P. (2026). Synergistic Effects of Silica Nanofluid on Wettability and Interfacial Tension in Sandstone Pores. 76(1), 113. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2024076113

Belhaj, A. F., Elraies, K. A., Janjuhah, H. T., Tasfy, S. F. H., Yahya, N., Abdullah, B., . . . Technology, P. (2019). Electromagnetic waves-induced hydrophobic multiwalled carbon nanotubes for enhanced oil recovery. 9(4), 2667-2670. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-019-0653-6

Ebrahimi, M., Ghalenavi, H., Schaffie, M., Ranjbar, M., & Hemmati-Sarapardeh, A. J. S. R. (2025). Experimental investigation of wettability alteration in sandstone rock by nanoparticles, gelatin biopolymer, salt ions, and synthesized Fe3O4/gelatin nanocomposite for EOR applications. 15(1), 33260. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-18591-w

Eckhouse, G. J. N. P. E. (2025). Performing energy: the International Energy Agency and the conflicting imaginaries of capitalist energy transition. 30(5), 741-754. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/13563467.2025.2497763

El-Masry, J. F., Bou-Hamdan, K. F., Abbas, A. H., & Martyushev, D. A. J. E. (2023). A comprehensive review on utilizing nanomaterials in enhanced oil recovery applications. 16(2), 691. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/en16020691

Esfe, M. H., Eftekhari, S. A., Hekmatifar, M., & Toghraie, D. J. S. r. (2021). A well-trained artificial neural network for predicting the rheological behavior of MWCNT–Al2O3 (30–70%)/oil SAE40 hybrid nanofluid. 11(1), 17696. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96808-4

Fathaddin, M. T., Prapansya, O. R., Rakhmanto, P. A., Mardiana, D. A., Septianingrum, W. A., Irawan, S., . . . Gas. (2025). The Effect of TiO2 Nanoparticles on The Performance of Kappaphycus Alvarezii Biopolymer for Enhanced Oil Recovery. 48(3), 327-339.

Heris, S. Z., Bagheri, H., Mousavi, S. B., & Hosseini Nami, S. J. T. C. J. o. C. E. (2024). Optimizing nanofluid additives for enhanced thermophysical properties in anionic crude oil for EOR applications. 102(7), 2418-2431. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/cjce.25208

Jalilov, D., Juraev, T., Halimov, A., Akhatov, J. J. H., & Transfer, M. (2026). Stability enhancement of oxidized carbon black nanofluids: effects of concentration, sonication time, and SDS surfactant. 62(2), 9. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-025-03638-5

Javadipour, S., Shokuhfar, A., Heidary, Z., Amiri Roshkhar, M. A., Homayouni, K., Rezaei, F., . . . Khamoushi, S. M. J. S. R. (2023). Stability, optimum ultrasonication, and thermal and electrical conductivity estimation in low concentrations of Al12Mg17 nanofluid by dynamic light scattering and beam displacement method. 13(1), 13659. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40844-9

Kandiel, Y. E., Attia, G. M., Metwalli, F. I., Khalaf, R. E., Mahmoud, O. J. J. o. P. E., & Technology, P. (2025). Nanoparticles in enhanced oil recovery: state-of-the-art review. 15(4), 66. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-025-01965-1

Kanti, P. K., Paramasivam, P., Wanatasanappan, V. V., Dhanasekaran, S., & Sharma, P. J. S. R. (2024). Experimental and explainable machine learning approach on thermal conductivity and viscosity of water based graphene oxide based mono and hybrid nanofluids. 14(1), 30967. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81955-1

Kim, W.-W., Moon, J.-H., & Lee, S.-T. J. M. (2023). Effect of dispersing carbon nanotube in aqueous solution by poly-carboxylic-based surfactants on mechanical and microstructural properties as cementitious composites. 16(21), 6880. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16216880

Maia, K. C., Densy dos Santos Francisco, A., Moreira, M. P., Nascimento, R. S., & Grasseschi, D. J. A. o. (2024). Advancements in surfactant carriers for enhanced oil recovery: mechanisms, challenges, and opportunities. 9(35), 36874-36903. doi:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c04058

Malozyomov, B. V., Martyushev, N. V., Kukartsev, V. V., Tynchenko, V. S., Bukhtoyarov, V. V., Wu, X., . . . Kukartsev, V. A. J. E. (2023). Overview of methods for enhanced oil recovery from conventional and unconventional reservoirs. 16(13), 4907. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/en16134907

Qu, S.-y., Li, H.-l., Wang, S.-q., Huang, B., & Ye, Z.-l. (2024). Experimental Study on Enhanced Imbibition Oil Recovery with Ultra-Low Permeability Active Nanofluid. Paper presented at the International Field Exploration and Development Conference.

Razavifar, M., Nabipourghazanfari, A., Mousavi, S. B., & Zeinali Heris, S. J. S. R. (2025). Modifying crude oil synergistic properties with carbon dots and ultrasonic waves. 15(1), 21280. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04928-y

Ridaliani, O., Setiati, R., Fathaddin, M. T., Anggela, L., Prima, A., Davy, N., . . . Gas. (2025). Effects of Palm-Oil-Based Methyl Ester Sulfonate (MES) in Laboratory-Scale Enhanced Oil Recovery Process. 48(4), 51-59. doi:https://doi.org/10.29017/scog.v48i4.1825

Rowi, K., Subagio, A., Taufiq, H. R., Azis, M. M., Prasetiyo, B. D., Sitompul, V., . . . Gas. (2025). Synergy of Nano Silica and Anionic Surfactant Fluid as Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery. 48(4), 275-291. doi:https://doi.org/10.29017/scog.v48i4.1951

Soleimani, H. M., & Sadeghi, M. T. J. S. R. (2025). Experimental investigation of nanoclay performance as an assistant in water based enhanced oil recovery method. 15(1), 2444. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86530-w

Taheri, K., Majd, S. H. H., Ghanbarian, B., Bakhshian, S., & Safariniya, S. J. S. R. (2025). A synergistic approach to enhanced oil recovery by combining in-situ surfactant production and wettability alteration in carbonate reservoirs. 15(1), 11688. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96199-w

Tong, Q., Fan, Z., Liu, Q., Qiao, S., Cai, L., Fu, Y., . . . Sun, A. J. M. (2023). Research progress in nanofluid-enhanced oil recovery technology and mechanism. 28(22), 7478. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28227478

Yahyazadeh, A., Nanda, S., & Dalai, A. K. J. R. (2024). Carbon nanotubes: a review of synthesis methods and applications. 5(3), 429-451. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/reactions5030022

Yousefrooz, A., Shabani, M. H., Jafari, A., Fakhroueian, Z., & Manteghian, M. J. S. R. (2025). Interfacial tension reduction and viscosity control by chemically grafted polymeric surfactant for enhanced oil recovery. 15(1), 11607. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94997-w

Downloads

Published

25-09-2026

Issue

Section

Articles