Biomass-derived quantum dots for flow assurance in oil and gas – fundamentals, applications, and future outlook: a review

Biomass-derived quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as versatile, eco-friendly nanomaterials with significant potential for addressing flow assurance challenges in oil and gas production. This review critically examines their synthesis from diverse biomass sources via green, scalable methods, including hydrothermal, solvothermal, microwave-assisted, and pyrolytic approaches, and highlights the key physicochemical properties, surface functional groups, charge, dispersibility, and photoluminescence, that govern their performance. The multifunctionality of these QDs is demonstrated across flow assurance issues, including scale formation, corrosion, asphaltene and wax deposition, hydrate inhibition, and emulsion stabilization, where mechanisms involve adsorption, chelation, crystal morphology alteration, redox modulation, and interface interactions. Comparative analyses indicate that biomass-derived QDs can achieve performance comparable to, and in some cases exceeding, conventional chemical additives while providing additional multifunctional benefits. Challenges related to long-term stability, environmental impact, scalability, and compatibility with existing oilfield chemicals are discussed, alongside opportunities for advanced applications, such as hybrid nanomaterials, fluorescence-based monitoring, and engineered multifunctional inhibitors. Collectively, the evidence positions biomass-derived QDs as promising sustainable nanomaterials for multifunctional flow assurance, while identifying critical gaps for future research and industrial translation.