Synthesis of Zeolite Bayah Nanocomposites with Metal Oxides Using Hydrothermal Method as Aquathermolysis Catalysts for Enhanced Oil Recovery Technology

Abstract

In this study, the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO)/Activated Natural Zeolite and iron oxide (Fe₂O₃)/Activated Natural Zeolite nanocomposites was conducted using a hydrothermal method as an aquathermolysis catalysts. In the first stage, natural zeolite was activated by heating at 400°C for 60 minutes. The activated natural zeolite was mixed with metal precursors ZnCl₂ or FeCl₃.6H₂O to form zinc oxide (ZnO) or iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) nanocomposites. Characterization was then carried out using FTIR, SEM, and XRD to observe the crystal structure, morphology, and particle size of the synthesized samples. The SEM characterization showed that the synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles of ZnO and Fe₂O₃ had particle sizes of 80-100 nm and 56.5-59.5 nm, respectively. The ZnO/Activated Natural Zeolite nanocomposite synthesis results showed a surface morphology structure that was clumpy, with small randomly dispersed material. The clumps were zeolite material with sizes ranging from 2.15-2.35 µm, while the small randomly dispersed material on the clumpy surface was ZnO with sizes ranging from 0.89-0.95 µm. In contrast, the Fe₂O₃/Activated Natural Zeolite showed irregular small Fe₂O₃ particles around solid clumps with sizes ranging from 0.14-0.16 µm. These solid clumps were zeolite with sizes ranging from 0.29-0.34 µm, and there were pores on the surface with sizes ranging from 0.18-0.27 µm. The XRD characterization showed that the ZnO/Activated Natural Zeolite nanocomposite had an average crystallite size of 15.01 nm, and the Fe₂O₃/Activated Natural Zeolite had an average crystallite size of 13.88 nm. The aquathermolysis test on heavy oil was carried out using the hydrothermal method at 200°C for 6 hours. A significant reduction in heavy oil viscosity was observed at 40°C, with a decrease of 69.27% for the Aquathermolysis + ZnO/Activated Natural Zeolite process and 71.57% for the Aquathermolysis + Fe₂O₃/Activated Natural Zeolite process.