Stability mechanism of O/W Pickering emulsions stabilized with regenerated cellulose

The stability and mechanism of O/W Pickering emulsions stabilized with regenerated cellulose were investigated. The Turbiscan Lab Expert Stabilizer, Particle Size Analyser, and Physica MCR301 Rheometer were used. When the concentration of regenerated cellulose increases, the aggregation of regenerated cellulose, emulsion stability and bulk and interfacial viscoelasticity increase as the diameter of the oil droplets decreases. In addition, the emulsions display a typical gel-like characteristic, and the oil-water interfacial shear rheological behaviour slightly differs from that of the O/W Pickering emulsions. This difference can be attributed to the aggregation of regenerated cellulose in the droplet surface under the shear condition. The emulsions exhibit excellent salt resistance at high salt concentrations. Moreover, the regenerated cellulose displays a better temperature resistance than amphiphilic polymer (AP), which is commonly used in oilfields. Hence, commercially available regenerated cellulose can be used as an ideal candidate for enhanced oil recovery.