Small angle X-ray scattering studies of reverse micelles in supercritical fluids

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/28247· OSTI ID:28247

Pfund, D M; Fulton, J L

The nature of aggregates formed in a supercritical fluid determines its solvent power and selectivity. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a powerful tool for studying the properties of aggregates with sizes in the 10{angstrom} to 200{angstrom} range. It is also useful in studying those interparticle interactions which operate over a similar distance. The authors have used SAXS to examine the aggregates formed in pure fluids, in mixtures and in fluid/surfactant/water systems. The scattered intensity as a function of angle depends on the geometry, polydispersity, X-ray contrast, and interaction strength of the particles as well as on the phase behavior of the system. In this paper the authors present the results of modeling the X-ray scattering from AOT/water reverse micelles in supercritical propane and in propane/carbon dioxide mixtures. They examine the effect of dilution with CO{sub 2} anti-solvent on the phase behavior of the system and on the strength of intermicellar attractions. A better understanding of these systems must be obtained before the applications of supercritical reverse micelle systems to extractions, reactions, and enhanced oil recovery can be fully developed.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 28247
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA--25782; CONF-9410114--6; ON: DE95007803
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
40 CHEMISTRY
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUID MECHANICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICELLAR SYSTEMS
PHASE STUDIES
SMALL ANGLE SCATTERING
SUPERCRITICAL GAS EXTRACTION
SURFACTANTS
X RADIATION