Biosynthesis and Characterization of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles from Agricultural Waste for Reduction of the Crude Oil Viscosity

The current study focuses on reducing heavy crude oil viscosity using a dilution technique with dispersed nanoparticles to create nanofluids in a solvent. The iron oxide NPs used in this study were obtained by a green synthesis using corn husk extract as a biomass source. Biosynthesized Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles (MNPs) were characterized using various techniques, such as XRD, FTIR, SEM and EDX, and then blended with xylene to prepare nanofluids for evaluating their viscosity-reducing performance. Nanofluids were prepared at 298 K using 15 wt % xylene and varying concentrations of Fe3O4 MNPs (10, 100, 500, and 1000 ppm). Viscosity measurements were performed at 298 K, over the shear rate range of 2‒42 s–1 showing that the most significant viscosity reduction (71.3%) in heavy oil samples supplemented with 15 wt % xylene and 1000 ppm NPs occurred at the share rate of 42 s–1. The effect of temperature on viscosity has been also studied at different T values (298.15, 308.15, and 318.15 K). The most significant reduction (79.79%) of the viscosity of nanofluids (15 wt % xylene, 1000 ppm NPs) was observed at a shear rate of 42 s–1 and 318.13 K. The results demonstrated a potential of nanofluids as successful and sustainable fluids capable of improving the mobility of heavy oil in transportation pipelines.