Abstract
The synergistic potential of using graphene oxide (GO) and polymer as GO enhanced polymer (GOeP) hybrid for enhancing oil recovery (EOR) purposes has drawn attention. However, the hybridization method and stability of GOeP have not been comprehensively studied. To cover the gap, current study evaluates the stability of GOeP under different conditions, including temperature (60 and 80°C), salinity (sea water and its 0.1 dilution), and presence of Mg2+ ions (6430 and 643 ppm). Hence, GO was synthesized and characterized through XRD, Raman, FTIR, and DLS techniques. The performance of five preparation methods was assessed to determine their ability to produce stable hybrids. Zeta potential and sedimentation methods, coupled with ANOVA statistical technique, were used for measuring and interpreting stability for 21 days. Results revealed that the stability of GOeP in the presence of brine is influenced by hydrolyzation duration, the composition of the water used in polymer hydrolyzation, the form of additives (being powdery or in aqueous solution), and the dispersion quality, including whether the GO solution was prediluted. Results revealed that the positive impact of higher temperatures on long-term stability of the GOeP is approximately seven times lower than stability reduction caused by salinity. In conditions of elevated salinity, a higher Mg2+ concentration was observed to induce an 80% decrease in long-term stability, while the impact of temperature remained negligible. These findings highlight the importance of salinity and the role of Mg2+ in influencing the stability dynamics of the GOeP solution, with potential use for EOR purposes.