Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and - Center for ...

George Hirasaki
Walter Chapman
Andrew Barron
George Bennett
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Unconventional Carbon-Based Energy
Oil Sands, Gas Hydrates, Shale and
Biofuels
Professor George Hirasaki is investigating
effectively separating nanodroplets of oil
from bitumen solids through an Alberta
Collaborative grant. The surfactant and
polymer-based micelles Hirasaki’s lab
investigates for enhanced oil recovery
are also applicable in enhanced oil sands
recovery. The surfactants wet the bitumen
solids and aggregate the oil nanodroplets
for harvesting.
Professor Walter Chapman models the
decomposition and formation of gas
hydrates, self-assembled nanostructure
cages that encapsulate gas molecules.
The amount of carbon in gas hydrates
is estimated to be more than twice the
amount of carbon in all other fossil fuel
deposits. Chapman’s group combines
nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular
simulation with phase equilibria and
kinetic studies to provide needed thermodynamic,
transport and kinetic data for
hydrate decomposition.
Professor Barron has developed a series of
nano-enhanced proppants. The proppant’s
decreased weight and higher strength
increase the effective fracture length, enhance
control over created fracture geometry
and reduce the environmental impact
of hydraulic fracturing. Modeling suggests
the nano-enhanced proppants could increase
initial production by 50 percent and
shallow production decline by 15 percent.
The hollow silica proppant lends itself to
incorporation of sensor technologies for
smart proppants, currently under development
in Barron’s laboratory.
Professor George Bennett’s laboratory focuses
on genetic engineering of metabolic
pathways of microbes for production of
biofuels and chemicals. Their metabolic
engineering yields a “cellular refinery” approach
of producing multiple compatible
products during a process. Bennett is investigating
genetic alterations in metabolic
pathways of bacteria to produce butanol
and ethanol.