The effect of NaCl and HPAM solution concentration on HPAM gel structure degradation by ultrasonic waves

Abstract

AbstractThe present study evaluated the impact of ultrasonic waves on the degradation of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) gel structures, focusing on the effects of sonication time, NaCl concentration, and HPAM solution concentration. Results showed that both sonication time and salinity levels play a crucial role in the degradation of HPAM gel, with an increase in sonication time leading to a decrease in the remaining gel and the presence of NaCl in the solution decreasing the residual time required for degradation. The results also revealed that higher levels of salinity expedite the degradation of the gel. In addition, the study discovered that a rise in polymer solution concentration usually results in a reduction in gel degradation. The research suggests there might be an ideal combination of polymer solution and NaCl concentration for achieving the greatest decrease in the degradation rate. For 2‐min sonication, as the salinity of the HPAM solution, with a concentration of up to 5000 ppm, increases, the accumulated energy remains relatively constant. However, when the polymer solution concentration is increased, the accumulated energy becomes more sensitive to changes in salinity. The results of this study provide valuable insight into the interplay between polymer solution concentration, salt concentration, and the energy required for gel degradation, which can be applied in various fields including the oil and gas industry, petroleum processing, and environmental remediation.