Enhancing thermal stability and viscosity of cellulose ether using propylene carbonate as a transesterification agent for oilfield applications

Authors

  • Ghulam Abbas Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, S. Z. A. B. Campus, Khairpur Mir’s, Sindh, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6625-9249
  • Faisal Hussain Memon Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, S. Z. A. B. Campus, Khairpur Mir’s, Sindh, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4024-3185
  • Abdul Samad Shaikh Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, S. Z. A. B. Campus, Khairpur Mir’s, Sindh, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2464-1959
  • Tariq Ali Chandio School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2745-2421
  • Khalil Rehman Memon Institute of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
  • Abdul Haque Tunio Institute of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8196-7654

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.ajset/4.1.1

Keywords:

Cellulose ether, Viscosity, Organic carbonate, Concentration, Thermal degradation, Rheological properties, Propylene carbonate, Hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose

Abstract

This study presents the utilisation of Propylene Carbonate (PC), along with an alkali-based solution, to modify the Hydroxyethyl Methyl Cellulose (HEMC) polymer to mitigate the thermal degradation of cellulose ether. The experimental results from FTIR and XRD analysis confirmed the addition of a new function group to the HEMC backbone and the formation of a new organic carbonate-based cellulose ether. Shear viscosity experiments were conducted at concentrations of 0.50-wt.% to 2-wt.% at ambient and elevated temperatures ranging from 80°C-110°C using a rheometer. All polymeric solutions exhibited shear-thinning behaviour, and the viscosity of polymeric solutions was enhanced by increasing the concentration of modified HEMC solutions. The modified HEMC solutions exhibited higher viscosity at 1000 s-1 shear rate at 110ºC compared to the native HEMC solutions, confirming the enhanced thermal stability of the PC-based modified HEMC solution. Alkali-based modified HEMC solution exhibited low shear viscosity at ambient temperature. The alkali-based polymeric solution’s viscosity was increased by 48% at a high shear rate at 110ºC. In conclusion, 0.50-wt.% and 01-wt.% concentration of alkali-based PC-modified HEMC solution proved efficient in maintaining viscosity under ambient conditions, increasing solubility and exhibiting improved thermal stability at geothermal conditions for oil field applications.

Published

2025-01-20

How to Cite

Abbas, G., Memon, F. H., Shaikh, A. S., Chandio, T. A., Memon, K. R., & Tunio, A. H. (2025). Enhancing thermal stability and viscosity of cellulose ether using propylene carbonate as a transesterification agent for oilfield applications. Asian Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology (AJSET), 4(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.47264/idea.ajset/4.1.1

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles