Carbon Nanoparticles from Waste Zn-C Battery via an Eco-friendly Method: Characterisation and Application for Wettability Alteration

The potential of low-cost nanoparticles to enhance oil recovery efficiency has garnered interest in recent years. This study employs eco-friendly methods to synthesise carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) from spent batteries and then characterises them using X-ray Diffraction Analysis and Transmission (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The results demonstrate that the optimum nanofluid prepared from the combination of CNPs with SAIL 1-dodecylpyridinium chloride alters wettability from 98 degrees to 41.75 degrees and zeta potential from -15.73 to -34.98 dynes/cm with a slight change in surface tension. The current study successfully synthesises CNPs and applies them to prepare nanofluid formulations that can alter the wettability toward water-wet to be effective as enhanced oil recovery agents.