This study elucidates the formulation, rheological behaviour, and chemical characterisation of a novel hybrid biopolymer synthesised from agro-waste, specifically Manihot esculenta (cassava) and Dioscorea alata (yam) peels, for potential deployment in Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). Conventional synthetic polymers, notably partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide (HPAM), suffer from severe thermal degradation and shear-induced mechanical breakdown in high-salinity reservoir environments. To address these limitations, a hybrid biopolymer was formulated and evaluated across a concentration gradient (0.3% to 2.1% w/v) and a rigorous thermal spectrum (30°C to 90°C) in a 30,000 ppm NaCl brine. Rheological analyses demonstrated that the hybrid biopolymer solutions exhibit pronounced non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic behaviour, maintaining a viscosity range of 1.5 to 8.5 mPa·s and exceptional thermal stability even at elevated temperatures. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of critical active functional groups, notably O-H and C-H stretching vibrations, indicative of polysaccharide structural stability and high reservoir compatibility. The findings substantiate this hybrid biopolymer as a highly viable, thermo-chemically stable, and environmentally benign alternative to conventional synthetic flooding agents in mature fields.
Okeke et al. (Mon,) studied this question.