Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Aug 21;15(1):30688.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-15660-y.

Novel PLA-Henna composite for sustainable tertiary enhanced oil recovery

Tariq Alkhrissat  1 , Ali Raqee Abdulhadi  2 , Muntadar Muhsen  3 , Jasgurpreet Singh Chohan  4   5 , M K Ranganathaswamy  6 , Premananda Pradhan  7 , Parveen Kumar  8 , Gauri Chauhan  9 , Ahmad Abumalek  10
Affiliations

Novel PLA-Henna composite for sustainable tertiary enhanced oil recovery

Tariq Alkhrissat et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) remains a critical focus for the petroleum industry, aiming to overcome the challenges of residual oil mobilization and maximize hydrocarbon recovery in increasingly complex reservoirs. This study introduces an innovative approach using synthesized Polylactic Acid (PLA)/Henna composites as an environmentally sustainable additive to enhance oil recovery through mechanisms such as interfacial tension (IFT) reduction, wettability alteration, and physical sweeping for improved fluid sweep efficiency. The composite was synthesized using extrusion techniques to ensure a uniform filler dispersion and was extensively characterized through FTIR, SEM, and EDS analyses. Brines, including seawater (SW), formation water (FW), and PLA-Henna-modified SW, were formulated to simulate actual reservoir conditions. Experimental analyses included IFT measurement using the pendant drop method, wettability studies using contact angle measurements, and core flooding experiments to assess EOR performance. Experimental findings revealed that the optimal PLA-Henna concentration was 2 wt%, which achieved significant IFT reductions (to 27 mN/m in SW). The composite also altered rock wettability from oil-wet to water-wet with pronounced effects in SW brine, where contact angles reduced from 142 to 89°. Core flooding experiments highlighted an increase in oil recovery factors, with PLA-Henna-modified SW yielding the highest recovery (85%) compared to FW (49.7%) or SW (61%). These advancements emphasize PLA/Henna composites' potential for sustainable EOR applications, ensuring improved recovery outcomes while utilizing biodegradable, eco-friendly materials.

Keywords: Core flooding; Enhanced oil recovery; Interfacial tension; PLA/Henna; Wettability alteration.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: This section is not applicable, and no human or animal is studied in this research.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
SEM images related to (A) first and (B) second synthesis process.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
EDX test results related to (A) first and (B) second synthesis process.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
FTIR spectra of PLA/Henna composite related to (A) first synthesis and (B) second synthesis process.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Wettability captures related to fluid number 7 in (A) Ө0 (B) Ө1 and (C) Ө2.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
RF vs. Pressure drop during secondary and tertiary flooding (formation water).
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
RF vs. Pressure drop during secondary and tertiary flooding (sea water).
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
RF vs. Pressure drop during PLAHSW flooding.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Feng, G. et al. Novel facile nonaqueous precipitation in-situ synthesis of mullite whisker skeleton porous materials. Ceram. Int.44(18), 22904–22910 (2018).
    1. Feng, G. et al. Luminescent properties of novel red-emitting M7Sn(PO4)6: Eu3+ (M= Sr, Ba) for light-emitting diodes. Luminescence33(2), 455–460 (2018). - PubMed
    1. Feng, G. et al. Preparation of novel porous hydroxyapatite sheets with high Pb2+ adsorption properties by self-assembly non-aqueous precipitation method. Ceram. Int.49(18), 30603–30612 (2023).
    1. Liao, H., Xu, T. & Yu, H. Progress and prospects of EOR technology in deep, massive sandstone reservoirs with a strong bottom-water drive. Energy Geosci.5(1), 100164 (2024).
    1. Nowrouzi, I., Mohammadi, A. H. & Khaksar Manshad, A. Benchmarking the potential of a resistant green hydrocolloid for chemical enhanced oil recovery from sandstone reservoirs. Can. J. Chem. Eng.103(1), 230–250 (2025).

LinkOut - more resources