Unraveling Barite Scale Crystallization Mechanisms In The Presence Of Polyprotic Acids

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dc.contributor.advisorRimer, Jeffrey D.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberConrad, Jacinta C.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberPalmer, Jeremy C.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberReynolds, Michael A.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberJacobson, Allan J.
dc.creatorSosa, Ricardo David
dc.creator.orcid0000-0001-7441-2620
dc.date.accessioned2022-06-18T23:14:24Z
dc.date.createdAugust 2021
dc.date.issued2021-08
dc.date.submittedAugust 2021
dc.date.updated2022-06-18T23:14:25Z
dc.description.abstractMineral scale occurs in processes ranging from water treatment and purification to oil and gas production systems, posing significant challenges to the upstream petroleum industry. Designing effective biodegradable chemical treatments to reduce scale formation requires understanding the molecular-scale interactions of inhibitors during nucleation, growth, and dissolution of scale. Crystal growth modifiers (or impurities), in the form of ions (Na+, Zn2+, Mg2+, etc.), small molecules, or macromolecules such as peptides, proteins, or polymers can be introduced to growth or dissolution media to aid in controlled crystal growth (inhibition or promotion) or dissolution as demineralizing agents. The precise effect of hydrodynamics, which alters modifier-crystal interactions, on inhibitor and dissolver efficacy remains elusive. This dissertation has established a robust microfluidic platform that systematically characterizes the effects of hydrodynamics on crystallization processes for barium sulfate (barite). These studies focused on elucidating the effects of small molecules and bio-derived macromolecules on barite crystallization and dissolution kinetics. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to track surface growth and dissolution in real time. Findings in this dissertation provide mechanistic insight into the unique modes of barite dissolution via the use of demineralizing agents, such as the naturally-derived macromolecule alginate, and the cooperative synergy achieved through the use of binary combinations of demineralizing agents with commercial scale dissolvers, such as dietheylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). An irreversible inhibition mechanism is gleaned from these studies in which amorphous surface features are formed on barite surfaces in the presence of small polyprotic carboxylate-based molecules. In summary, this dissertation details studies using a combination of state-of-the-art characterization that elucidate growth, inhibition, and dissolution mechanisms for barite scale in media containing molecular modifiers of varying chemistry for the improved design of chemical scale treatments.
dc.description.departmentChemical and Biomolecular Engineering, William A. Brookshire Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginborn digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.citationPortions of this document appear in: Sosa, R. D.; Geng, X.; Reynolds, M. A.; Rimer, J. D.; Conrad, J. C. A Microfluidic Approach for Probing Hydrodynamic Effects in Barite Scale Formation. Lab on a Chip 2019, 19 (9), 1534-1544; and in: Sosa, R. D.; Geng, X.; Agarwal, A.; Palmer, J. C.; Conrad, J. C.; Reynolds, M. A.; Rimer, J. D. Acidic Polysaccharides as Green Alternatives for Barite Scale Dissolution. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2020, 12 (49), 55434-55443; and in: Geng, X.; Sosa, R. D.; Reynolds, M. A.; Conrad, J. C.; Rimer, J. D. Alginate as a Green Inhibitor of Barite Nucleation and Crystal Growth. Molecular Systems Design & Engineering 2021.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/9376
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. UH Libraries has secured permission to reproduce any and all previously published materials contained in the work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).
dc.subjectCrystallization
dc.subjectMolecular Modifiers
dc.titleUnraveling Barite Scale Crystallization Mechanisms In The Presence Of Polyprotic Acids
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
dcterms.accessRightsThe full text of this item is not available at this time because the student has placed this item under an embargo for a period of time. The Libraries are not authorized to provide a copy of this work during the embargo period.
local.embargo.lift2023-08-01
local.embargo.terms2023-08-01
thesis.degree.collegeCullen College of Engineering
thesis.degree.departmentChemical and Biomolecular Engineering, William A. Brookshire Department of
thesis.degree.disciplineChemical Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy

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