Synthesis and characterization of novel acrylamide-based ternary polyampholyte as tracer agent

• Main Authors: Iskander Gussenov, Nurbatyr Mukhametgazy, Alexey V. Shakhvorostov, Sarkyt E. Kudaibergenov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: al-Farabi Kazakh National University 2021-03-01
• Series: Chemical Bulletin of Kazakh National University
• Subjects: ternary polyampholyte; synthesis; characterization; core flooding; filtration; tracer
• Online Access: https://bulletin.chemistry.kz/index.php/kaznu/article/view/1183
• ISSN: 1563-0331; 2312-7554

A novel ternary polyampholyte composed of fully charged anionic monomer – 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt (AMPS), cationic monomer – (3-acrylamidopropyl) trimethylammonium chloride (APTAC) and the positively charged fluorescent dye – acrylamide Nile Blue (ANB) was synthesized by conventional free radical copolymerization and characterized by FTIR, UV-Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and zeta-potential. FTIR spectrum of AMPS-APTAC-ANB shows that introduction of 1 mol.% ANB into copolymer composition does not influence the basic characteristic bands of polyampholyte. The adsorption and emission peaks of AMPS-APTAC-ANB found at lmax = 586 nm and lmax = 660-680 nm are attributed to ANB groups of terpolymer. The average hydrodynamic size and zeta potential of AMPS-APTAC-ANB in aqueous solution that are equal to 4.3 nm and x= -1.6 mV indicating the globular conformation of amphoteric macromolecules with a slightly negative charge. Injection of 0.1 wt.% (or 1.3×10-3 mol×L-1) AMPS-APTAC-ANB into the core sample derived from the “Vostochnyi Moldabek” oilfield demonstrated the passing of fluorescently-labeled terpolymer through the core. The ternary polyampholyte containing the fluorescent marker can serve as oilfield tracer for monitoring well-to-well connections (or interwell tracer test).