Abstract-Thermal Terahertz Analysis for the Detection of Trace Organic Matter

 

Fankai Qin, Ru Chen, Yicen Li, Zhaohui Meng, Sitong Chen, Kun Zhao, Xinyang Miao, Wenfeng Xiang, Wenzheng Yue, Honglei Zhan, 

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.0c04354

The technology of trace organic matter (OM) detection offers researchers numerous intriguing possibilities, ranging from fundamental science to applications in many fields. This study proposes a thermal terahertz (THz) analysis (TTA) method that is suitable for detecting trace OM in the field of oil–gas resource and can analyze the differences in the content and type of trace OM. In this research, THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) technology combined with pyrolysis technology were used to detect the pyrolysis characteristics of trace OM in sand collected from a desert oilfield. According to thermogravimetric analysis, the main pyrolysis temperature range of the OM was 300–600 °C. Further analysis of the spectra indicated that when the pyrolysis temperature was 300 °C, the OM content in the sand was the highest and the THz waves were the most attenuated due to the strong interaction between OM and THz waves. As the pyrolysis temperature increased, the OM was gradually pyrolyzed into gas and escaped and the peak amplitude (Ep) of the THz-TDS clearly increased. When the pyrolysis temperature reached 600 °C, the OM was completely pyrolyzed while the Ep of the THz-TDS changed very little. Consequently, the trace OM detection method based on THz spectroscopy combined with pyrolysis technology is expected to become a new complementary means for the detection of trace OM information.

Abstract-Determining the Humidity-Dependent Ortho-to-Para Ratio of Water Vapor at Room Temperature Using Terahertz Spectroscopy

Xinyang Miao, Jing Zhu, Kun Zhao, Honglei Zhan, Wenzheng Yue,

https://www.osapublishing.org/as/abstract.cfm?uri=as-72-7-1040&origin=search

The origin of the water spin isomers observed under various physico-chemical conditions is of great interest, including that of H2O molecules in the gas phase. Here, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was used to study the humidity-dependent ortho-to-para (O/P) ratio of water vapor at room temperature. The relative contents of para and ortho molecules were obtained by fitting the absorption lines of water vapor showing the relationship between the spin isomer contents and humidity. Larger O/P ratios with values of 3.2 were observed at lower humidity (<20%) due to the stronger attractive forces of para molecules. The concentration of the ortho isomers then began to decrease at higher humidity (>20%) due to the preferential formation of dimers and clusters at increasing concentrations. Thus, the ratio gradually decreased with increasing humidity.

© 2018 The Author(s)

Abstract-Terahertz double-exponential model for adsorption of volatile organic compounds in active carbon

Jing Zhu1,2, Honglei Zhan1,2,3, Xinyang Miao1,2, Kun Zhao1,2,3 and Qiong Zhou

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-6463/aa6e2f/meta

In terms of the evaluation of the diffusion-controlled adsorption and diffused rate, a mathematical model was built on the basis of the double-exponential kinetics model and terahertz amplitude in this letter. The double-exponential-THz model described the two-step mechanism controlled by diffusion. A rapid step involves external and internal diffusion, followed by a slow step controlled by intraparticle diffusion. The concentration gradient of the molecules promoted the organic molecules rapidly diffusing to the external surface of adsorbent. The solute molecules then transferred across the liquid film. Intraparticle diffusion began and was determined by the molecular sizes, as well as affinities between organics and activated carbon.

Abstract-Discriminating the Mineralogical Composition in Drill Cuttings Based on Absorption Spectra in the Terahertz Range

Xinyang Miao, Hao Li, Rima Bao, Chengjing Feng, Hang Wu, Honglei Zhan, Yizhang Li, and Kun Zhao

https://www.osapublishing.org/as/abstract.cfm?uri=as-71-2-186&origin=search

Understanding the geological units of a reservoir is essential to the development and management of the resource. In this paper, drill cuttings from several depths from an oilfield were studied using terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). Cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to classify and analyze the cuttings. The cuttings were clearly classified based on CA and PCA methods, and the results were in agreement with the lithology. Moreover, calcite and dolomite have stronger absorption of a THz pulse than any other minerals, based on an analysis of the PC1 scores. Quantitative analyses of minor minerals were also realized by building a series of linear and non-linear models between contents and PC2 scores. The results prove THz technology to be a promising means for determining reservoir lithology as well as other properties, which will be a significant supplementary method in oil fields.

Combination of THz Spectroscopy and AM Technique Can be Used to Evaluate Water Content in Crude Oil

http://www.azom.com/news.aspx?newsID=47409

Water content in crude oil is closely related to the prediction of water level of oil well, the evaluation of oil reservoir exploitation and the recovery and development of mining scheme. Therefore, the accurate measurement of water content is significant not only for forecasting the exploiting capacity of an oil field before mining and estimating working status, but also for grading and evaluating oil products.

Producing sample pool using AM technology and the relationship between water content and THz parameters. (Credit: Science China Press)

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In order to optimize the production and confirm the security, simple and secure methods have been proposed for detecting the water content in crude oil. Terahertz (THz) radiation is a newly-developed, non-contact and secure method, and can be absorbed by organics and water molecules in different degrees, which has been used to evaluate the quality of oil and oil products.

In the article, coauthored with LiMei Guan, HongLei Zhan, XinYang Miao, Jing Zhu, Kun Zhao, water content in oil-water mixtures from 1.8%-90.6% was measured by using special designed samplers for high-water-content oil which are manufactured by additive manufacturing system. These researchers stated: "water content of oil-water mixtures with high water content is quantitatively characterized by the combination of THz spectroscopy and 3D-printing technology".

The study was published in the journal Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy. The strong absorption of water in the THz range leads to a decrease in SNR (signal-to-noiseratio), applying the additive manufactured samplers, the problem that signals usually affected by the significant signal attenuation can be resolved.

Detailed analysis shows the relationships among THz parameters such as signal peak, time delay, and refractive index as well as absorption coefficient and water content in crude oil. Therefore, these THz parameters can be used to continuously monitor the moisture content.

In summary, the combination of THz spectroscopy and AM technique can be applied in oil characterization, even when the oilfield enters the high-water-bearing period. This combination could be a promising selection for measuring water content of fluid with good accuracy, which in turn could open up a new area of research.

Source: http://zh.scichina.com/