Synthesis and characterization of a novel amphiphilic copolymer containing β-cyclodextrin

In this article, maleic anhydride was used to attain the modified beta-cyclodextrin (MAH-beta-CD), and the MAH-beta-CD was copolymerized with acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS) via free radical copolymerization. The polymerization conditions were optimized through single-variable method. Subsequently, the copolymer structure was characterized through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((HNMR)-H-1) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The three-dimensional network structure formed in aqueous solutions was observed via experimental results of SEM. Subsequently, several aspects of the properties of the copolymer, such as temperature tolerance, shear tolerance, salt resistance, and oil displacement ability, were investigated by comparing with hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM). Results indicate that the copolymer showed better performances than HPAM; thus, it could be concluded that the introduction of beta-cyclodextrin in the polymer chain was helpful in enhancing the oil displacement efficiency in high-temperature and high-salinity oil field.