Enhancement of IFT Reduction in Surfactant Flooding by Branched Alcohols

Published research showed that alcohols are able to reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) between surfactant and oil when added<br>even in small amounts. Much of the work had focused on primary alcohols. This paper presents our preliminary investigation<br>on the effects of branched alcohols on interfacial tension changes in crude oil- sodium dodecyl sulphate mixtures. Branched<br>alcohols are chosen because many forms of bio-waste contain a significant number of branched components and a cheaper<br>product is expected if the natural structure of the feedstock can be exploited.