"The field of bulk and interfacial properties of molecular fluids and porous media is critical in addressing environmental challenges, particularly those related to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and global warming. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques have been employed to improve oil production while simultaneously sequestering CO2, thus mitigating its atmospheric release. Nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes and polymers, have shown promise in capturing, transporting, and storing greenhouse gases. Despite the U.S. achieving a CO2-EOR production rate of approximately 0.29 million barrels per day, there remains a significant need to reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) between CO2 and oil to enhance oil yield. Current research has focused on understanding the contact angle's dependence on various factors like substrate type, pressure, temperature, and salinity to optimize EOR processes. However, gaps remain in fully comprehending the thermodynamic properties of fluid mixtures and their impact on multicomponent multiphase flow simulations, which are essential for subsurface applications such as petroleum reservoir engineering, CO2 sequestration, and groundwater preservation.
This research topic aims to deepen the molecular-level understanding of processes relevant to gas capture, storage in depleted oil fields, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Specifically, it seeks to answer questions related to the bulk and interfacial properties of molecular fluids, the role of contact angles in EOR efficiency, and the impact of various environmental factors on these processes. The research will test hypotheses concerning the interactions between CO2, water, and rock substrates, as well as the effectiveness of nanomaterials in gas sensing, capture, transport, and storage.

To gather further insights into the bulk and interfacial properties of molecular fluids and porous media, we welcome original research, perspectives and review articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Bulk and interfacial properties of oil+water+gas systems
- Contact angles for oil+water+gas+rock (silica, kerogen, clay, calcite, etc.) systems
- Nanomaterials for applications in gas sensing, capture, transport, and storage
- Thermodynamic properties of fluid mixtures
- Molecular simulations and theoretical modelling of multiphase flow
- Experimental studies on CO2 interactions with water and rock substrates
- Machine learning approaches for predicting fluid and interfacial properties"

Submit your idea

Impact

Frontiers in Chemistry

Submit your idea

Impact