Abstract
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•A novel biosurfactant was developed from water hyacinth.•The synthesized biosurfactant can effectively reduce IFT and alter wettability.•Rheological properties of xanthan gum were improved by the biosurfactant.•The xanthum gum–biosurfactant system is suitable for EOR.
Surfactant plays a major role in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). However, most of the commonly-used surfactants are toxic, non-biodegradable, and can adsorb on the surface of the porous rocks. This work is focused on the development of an alternative sustainable biosurfactant derived from the weed Eichhornia crassipes and its utilization in EOR. The surfactant has been characterized by the FTIR, GC–MS, 1H NMR, FESEM, and FETEM analyses. The surface and interfacial tension have been measured. The influence of the synthesized surfactant on the rheological properties of xanthan gum has been studied and compared with that of a commercially used surfactant (i.e., sodium dodecyl sulfate). An effective improvement in the rheological properties and stability against heat and salinity suggest its potential application in EOR.