Nanoparticles have gained considerable interest in recent times for oil recovery purposes owing to significant capabilities in wettability alteration of reservoir rocks. Wettability is a key factor controlling displacement efficiency and ultimate recovery of oil. The present study investigates the influence of zirconium (IV) oxide (ZrO2) and nickel (II) oxide (NiO) nanoparticles on the wetting preference of fractured (oil-wet) limestone formations. Wettability was assessed through SEM, AFM and contact angle. The potentials of the nanoparticles to alter oil-wet calcite substrates water wet, was experimentally tested at low nanoparticle concentrations (0.004–0.05 wt%). Quite similar behaviour was observed for both nanoparticles at the same particle concentration; while ZrO2 demonstrated a better efficiency by altering strongly oil-wet (water contact angle θ=152°) calcite substrates into a strongly water-wet (θ=44°) state, NiO changed wettability to an intermediate-wet condition (θ=86°) at 0.05 wt% nanoparticle concentration. We conclude that ZrO2 is very efficient in terms of inducing strong water-wettability; and ZrO2 based nanofluids have a high potential as EOR agents.
As tight gas reservoirs (TGRs) become more significant to the future of the gas industry, investigation into the best methods for the evaluation of field performance is critical. While hydraulic fractured well in TRGs are proven to be most viable options for economic recovery of gas, the interpretation of pressure transient or well test data from hydraulic fractured well in TGRs for the accurate estimation of important reservoirs and fracture properties (e.g. fracture length, fracture conductivity, skin and reservoir permeability) is rather very complex and difficult because of the existence of multiple flow profiles/regimes. The flow regimes are complex in TGRs due to the large hydraulic fractures n
Quorum sensing (QS) is a perfectly orchestrated molecular communication system. It is a boon for Klebsiella pneumoniae, and bane for the host. This system is believed to make K. pneumoniae a leading cause of multidrug-resistant (MDR) nosocomial infections. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm potential of medicinal plant extracts through interfering with QS of K. pneumoniae. The effect of different concentrations of ethanolic extracts of cinnamon and clove on K. pneumoniae was determined by analyzing the growth curve, survival assay (MTT), Qualitative and quantitative biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance, along with studying gene expression of the genes encoding the above traits, using quantitative real tim
... Show MoreMagnetized iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared using Eucalyptus leaf extract and then coated with CTAB (Cetrimonium bromide) to increase efficiency. The prepared and modified (NPs) were characterized using AFM, FTIR, and X-ray techniques. The adsorption of the dye reactive blue RB 238 on coated (NPs) was investigated. The effect of various experimental factors, such as the initial concentration of the dye, the amount of adsorbent, pH and temperature on the removal of RB238 was studied. The best conditions for dye removal were found to be 298 K in an acidic medium of pH = 3 and an appropriate dose of the adsorbent of 0.15 g per 25 mg/L to achieve the best color removal of 90% within 60 minutes. The pseudo-second-order re
... Show MoreIn this study, the aqueous extract of (Typha domingensis Pers.) pollen grain (qurraid) to know its ability to manufacture silver nanoparticles. Qurraid is a semi-solid yellow food substance, sold in Basra markets and eaten by the local population. It is made from the pollen of the T. domingensis Pers. plant after being pressed and treated with water vapor. The Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) reaction was done to identify the active compounds of qurraid aqueous extract. The ability of the aqueous extract of qurraid to manufacture silver nanoparticles was tested, and the construction of silver nanoparticles was inferred by the reaction mixture's color, which ranged from yellow to dark brown. The synthesi
... Show MoreAntibiotic resistance is the capability of the strains to resist or protect themselves from the effects of an antibiotic. Such a resistance towards the current antimicrobials leads to the search of novel antimicrobials. Nanotechnology has been promising in different field of science and among it is the use of nanoparticles as antibacterial agents. The gastrointestinal tract seems to be the primary reservoir of uropathogenic E.coli (UPEC) in humans. UPEC strains harbour the urinary tract and cause urinary tract infection. They cause serious ailments in terms of humans. They develop resistance and increase their virulence by forming biofilms. They also show a remarkable locomotory movement with the aid of autoinducer controlled ge
... Show MoreA novel technique for nanoparticles with a chemical method and impact for resistance bacteria methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), UV-visible analysis confirmed the by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction pattern estimation antimicrobial excellent antibacterial activity against MRSA (with zone of inhibition of 11 ± 02 mm , 9 ± 01 mm,8 ± 03 mm and 7.5 ± 02 mm and 6.5 ± 02 mm) at different concentrations (0.5 ,0.25, 0.125, 0.0625, 0.03125) mg/ml while good activity was 16 ± 03 mm at 17 ± 02 mm zone at 0.25, 0.125 mg/mL, respectively. The increase in microorganism resistance to antibiotics a couple of have caused
... Show MoreMedicinal plant life have performed an integral role in the development of human lifestyle being used as resources for the manufacturing of contemporary medicines, antibiotics. Microorganisms are responsible for many issues in industry and remedy because of biofilm formation. This study aimed to take a look at the results of Thymus vulgaris alcoholic extract on Staphylococcus aureus the causative marketers of acne in human particularly the women. The extract was acquired mixing 25 g of Thyme powder with 350 ml of 80% ethanol for 6 hours at 40°. Antimicrobial activities of the plant extract and integral oil towards the S. aureus were decided using the agar diffusion technique. The consequences proven that special concentrations of alcoholic
... Show MoreThe study aims at investigating the effectiveness of the Virtual Library Technology, in developing the achievement of the English Language Skills in the Center of Development and Continuous Education, in comparison with the individual learning via personal computer to investigate the students' attitude towards the use of both approaches. The population of the study includes the participants in the English Language course arranged in the Center. The sample includes 60 students who were randomly chosen from the whole population (participants in English Courses for the year 2009-2010). The sample is randomly chosen and divided into two experimental groups. The first group has learned through classroom technology; while the other group has l
... Show MoreA comparison of gas sensing performance of V2O5:Ag nanoparticles as thin film and as bulk pellet toward NO2 and NH3 is presented. V2O5:Ag nanoparticles thin films were deposited by vacuum thermal evaporation method on glass substrates while the pellets were prepared by powder technology. XRD patterns of thin film and pellet were polycrystalline with an orthorhombic structure. The value of average grain size is about 60 nm. The morphological properties of the samples have been distinguished by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field effect scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) which indicated that the films showed homogeneous surfaces morphology a
... Show MoreThere is currently a pressing need to create an electro-analytical approach capable of detecting and monitoring genosensors in a highly sensitive, specific, and selective way. In this work, Functionalized Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes, Graphene, Polypyrrole, and gold nanoparticles nanocomposite (f-MWCNTs-GR-PPy-AuNP) were effectively deposited on the surface of the ITO electrode using a drop-casting process to modify it. The structural, morphological, and optical analysis of the modified ITO electrodes was carried out at room temperature using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemi
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