Mechanism of foam destruction by antifoams: a molecular dynamics study

Abstract

In enhanced oil recovery (EOR), the micro-oil droplet heavily affected the stability of foam and prevented foam flooding. In this paper, the oil bridge-stretching mechanism of foam rupture was described through molecular dynamics with the aim of providing supplements to the experiments at the molecular level. Two important phenomena for foam rupture have been pointed out by the simulation. One is about the pseudoemulsion film, representing the stability of the oil–water–air three phase interface. The bound water connecting the headgroups of the surfactant through strong H-bonding interactions played a vital role in the stability of the pseudoemulsion film. These water molecules could hinder the disappearance of the water phase in the pseudoemulsion film. The additional energy barrier, which was influenced by the surfactant concentration, also played a vital role in preventing the destruction process. The other factor is about the oil bridge, which appeared after the destruction of the pseudoemulsion film. The external horizontal force stretched the bridge resulting in the destruction of the bridge. The process was decided by the properties of the oil molecules. In the simulation, the stretching force was divided into three stages including the initial increasing force, the middle equilibrium force and the final decreasing force. Especially the second equilibrium force, which stretched the middle of the oil bridge so that it became thin, was vital to the foam rupture. The concentration and properties of the oil molecules were the crucial factors for foam rupture. The simulated results offer important supplements to experiments.