Nanosilica Supported Dual Acidic Ionic Liquid as a Recyclable Catalyst for the Rapid and Green Synthesis of Polycyclic Phenolic Compounds

Generally ionic liquids have gained increasing attention in organic synthesis as catalyst and solvent. However, there are some drawbacks, including the difficulties in the product purification, ionic liquid recycling, and use of excess amounts of the expensive ionic liquid when the ionic liquid is used in the organic reactions. In addition, the high viscosity of ionic liquids can lead to mass transfer limitations in fast chemical reactions. These problems can be overcome by the use of supported ionic liquid phases. In this article, a simple, efficient and green method has been developed for the synthesis of bisphenolic antioxidants by the reaction of 2-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol and aldehydes in the presence of nanosilica supported dual acidic ionic liquid (NSSDAIL) as robust and reusable catalyst under solvent-free conditions. Three different NSSDAILs were synthesized and characterized using SEM, BET, IR, and XRD techniques. High yields of the products, short reaction times, use of a non corrosive, non toxic and reusable catalyst, and use of solvent-free condition are the worthwhile advantages of the current method.     

Microbial and Waterflooding of Fractured Carbonate Rocks: An Experimental Approach

Fractures and fractured zones require special attention while formulating a reservoir development plan. They may improve or hinder the oil production. Conductive fracture rocks may provide the required permeability to drain an oil saturated low permeability rock matrix. Low sweep efficiency of many oil reservoirs is the result of channelling of injected water through high permeability zones that are normally associated with naturally fractured systems in heterogeneous reservoirs. In this case, a substantial amount of effort needs to be focused on improving the distribution of injected water in the wellbore through different treatments, such as using gelling agents, cements, cross-linked polymer and emulsions. Other alternatives such as microbial and surfactant based methods have been proposed. This paper presents the results of research conducted on thermophilic bacteria that were obtained from UAE local environment. Coreflooding experiments were conducted on fractured single cores to show the effectiveness of microbial treatment. Different fracture angle orientations of 45°, 90°, and 180° relevant to the axis of the flow were investigated. The effect of matrix permeability on the treatment was also studied. A comparison between water flooding and microbial flooding of fractured systems was conducted. A non-invasive imaging technique—Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)—was employed to visualize changes on the surface of the fracture as a result of bacteria flow through the system.     

ENHANCED RECOVERY OF MEDIUM CRUDE OIL IN HETEROGENEOUS RESERVOIRS USING AIR INJECTION/IN SITU COMBUSTION—HORIZONTAL WELL TECHNOLOGY

A simple 3-D physical model has been developed to investigate the use of in-situ combustion in heterogeneous reservoirs. Gas over-ride phenomena is one of the major causes of instability of combustion process; gas override results in poor sweep efficiency with subsequent low oil recovery. However, the use of horizontal wells in direct line drive arrangement has shown a great deal of combustion stability and propagation by means of controlling gas override This paper has extended the scope of using horizontal wells in direct line drive configuration in heterogeneous reservoirs. Three cases of reservoir heterogeneity were investigated in this study. In the first case, a dual-layer permeability of sand was used (a high permeability layer on top and a low permeability layer on bottom); in the second case, placement of the aforementioned layers was swapped, and in the third case, a high permeability streak was sandwiched between two low permeability layers of fine sand. The results indicated that a stable combustion front has been achieved in the first two cases with a high oil recovery, however the performance of the combustion process markedly deteriorated when a high permeability streak layer was utilised as a result of a severe low temperature oxidation due to oxygen channelling through the streak, with subsequent poor sweep efficiency and in turn low oil recovery. The use of horizontal wells as producers and injectors in a line drive configuration is beneficial and effective for minimising the effect of reservoir heterogeneity to some extent.     

Estimation of the transfer function of a subscriber loop by meansof a one-port scattering parameter measurement at the centraloffice

In order to qualify a subscriber loop for xDSL transmission, the channel capacity has to be estimated, which depends on the transfer function of the network. A method is provided to estimate the transfer function of the subscriber loop only measuring the one-port scattering parameter at the central office. We consider three types of networks according to their topology: a single line, a homogeneous network with a bridged tap, and a cascade of two line sections. For each type of network a parametric model is derived of its one-port scattering parameter and transfer function based on the physical line model VUB0. The model for the scattering parameter is used to identify the network based on the corresponding measurements by means of a maximum-likelihood estimator. The estimated parameters are substituted in the transfer function model, which is needed for the capacity estimation. The proposed models and estimators are validated by measurements and simulations. For the measurements, which were performed with a network analyzer, three types of twisted-pair cables were used: British Telecom (BT), Deutsch Telekom (FT), and Belgacom     

Structural and optical properties of tin oxide branched nanostructures

Branched nanostructures of tin oxide (SnO2) have been synthesized by Vapor-Liquid-Solid (VLS) mechanism using a gold catalyst in the temperature range of 800-850 degrees C under an ambient gas flow of 200 sccm. The microstructural and the optical properties of the as prepared products have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), micro-Raman, and photoluminescence (PL) studies. SnO2 branches with a rutile phase are found to have a preferential orientation along (101). Typical lengths of these branches are found to be approximately 3-5 microm and diameters in the range of 50-100 nm. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern shows that the SnO2 branches have a tetragonal cross section with [101] crystal direction. A Raman line at 631 cm(-1) (Sn-O bond) is obtained in the micro Raman spectra. Low temperature PL spectrum shows a strong green emission band near 506 nm.     

A Probabilistic Multiperiod Simulation–Optimization Approach for Dynamic Coastal Aquifer Management

Combined simulation–optimization (CSO) schemes are common in the literature to solve different groundwater management problems, and CSO is particularly well-established in the coastal aquifer management literature. However, with a few exceptions, nearly all previous studies have employed the CSO approach to derive static groundwater management plans that remain unchanged during the entire management period, consequently overlooking the possible positive impacts of dynamic strategies. Dynamic strategies involve division of the planning time interval into several subintervals or periods, and adoption of revised decisions during each period based on the most recent knowledge of the groundwater system and its associated uncertainties. Problem structuring and computational challenges seem to be the main factors preventing the widespread implementation of dynamic strategies in groundwater applications. The objective of this study is to address these challenges by introducing a novel probabilistic Multiperiod CSO approach for dynamic groundwater management. This includes reformulation of the groundwater management problem so that it can be adapted to the multiperiod CSO approach, and subsequent employment of polynomial chaos expansion-based stochastic dynamic programming to obtain optimal dynamic strategies. The proposed approach is employed to provide sustainable solutions for a coastal aquifer storage and recovery facility in Oman, considering the effect of natural recharge uncertainty. It is revealed that the proposed dynamic approach results in an improved performance by taking advantage of system variations, allowing for increased groundwater abstraction, injection and hence monetary benefit compared to the commonly used static optimization approach.

     

Plasma Heating of Carbonate Formations

Abstract

Calcium carbonate rock samples were exposed to high temperature argon plasma to investigate the efficiency of plasma heating for fracturing carbonate formations. Plasma temperature can change the basic properties of the rock through fracture and calcination, which in turn can result in a significant increase in its porosity and permeability. Several calcium carbonate cores with a diameter of 25.4 mm and a height of 29 mm were subjected to axial plasma heating at different temperatures and for different periods of time. The experimental results indicated that the top surface temperatures of the samples ranged from 800°C to 900°C and the temperature reached steady state within 4 min. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and porosity analysis of the treated samples indicated significant changes in the basic structure of the rocks and a substantial increase in both porosity and permeability. A mathematical model was developed to predict the temperature distribution along the axis of the heated sample and to estimate the time needed to achieve steady state. The model predictions were in good agreement with experimental results.     

Extraction of Uranium(VI) and Plutonium(IV) with Tetra-Alkylcarbamides

ABSTRACT

The use of tetra-alkylcarbamides as novel extractants for the separation of uranium(VI) and plutonium(IV) by solvent extraction from spent nuclear fuels is investigated in this study. Batch extraction experiments show that tetra-alkylcarbamides strongly extract U(VI) with high distribution ratios. Plutonium(IV) can be co-extracted with U(VI) at high nitric acid concentration, while high U(VI)/Pu(IV) selectivities can be reached at lower acidity. Loading capacity experiments with high uranium concentrations show that alkyl chains longer than butyl are necessary to avoid third phase formation. Nevertheless, the viscosity of uranium-loaded solvents gets too high with alkyl chains longer than pentyl. Overall, this study shows that with TPU extractant (with four pentyl chains), an efficient co-extraction of uranium and plutonium can be reached (D_U,Pu > 1) for a concentration of nitric acid higher than 4 mol?L^?1, while the partition between uranium(VI) and plutonium(IV) could be operated even at 2 mol?L^?1 nitric acid without redox chemistry.     

Effect of salinity and temperature on water cut determination in oil reservoirs

In this study, system stability and water cut were evaluated via IR analysis and physicochemical properties of the tested mixture. Samples were prepared with different water cuts at a specified salinity and tested by IR. Different cations were also used in the water portion of the mixture to evaluate its effect of interaction and stability. In addition, the effect of water cut, temperature, salinity and cation type, and composition on specific gravity, API gravity, kinematic and dynamic viscosities and surface tension were investigated. The studied water content range was from 0 to 0.8 while temperature from 20 to 100 °C. Salinity effect up to 40,000 ppm was also evaluated. For each mixed ion solution, equivalent sodium concentrations and mixture resistivity were calculated. Relationships between water cut, major functional groups and mixture physicochemical properties were developed. Therefore, for a known property, water cut could be predicted.