Thermophilic Enzyme Hydrolysis of Water-Soluble Polymers: Interrelationship Between Biocatalysis and Rheology

以半乳甘露聚糖为基础的天然聚合物水溶液被广泛用作水力压裂液，以提高气井和油井的产能。化学或酶水解半乳甘露聚糖聚合物是必要的，以去除聚合物残留物和打开裂缝的石油或天然气流动。由于环境和加工的原因，使用半纤维素酶已成为水解的首选途径。然而，人们对这些酶水解半乳甘露聚糖的机制以及这些系统的生物催化、物理化学和流变学之间的关系知之甚少。这项合作研究的目的是了解现有和拟议的聚合物压裂溶液在高温酶解过程中的物理化学和流变学。结果是生产出新一代增产液，增加可开采的石油和天然气储量，展示了一类新型耐热和热活性酶的技术实用性，并为半乳甘露聚糖溶液和凝胶的水解动力学和机理提供了基本的理解。＊＊＊

9711781 Prud'homme Aqueous solutions of galactomannan-based natural polymers are used extensively as hydraulic fracturing fluids to enhance productivity from gas and oil wells. Chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of the galactomannan polymers is necessary to remove the polymer residue and open the fracture for oil or gas flow. For environmental and processing reasons, the use of hemicellulosic enzymes has become the preferred route for hydrolysis. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which these enzymes hydrolyze galactomannans or about the relationship among biocatalysis, physical chemistry, and rheology of these systems. The objectives of this collaborative study are to understand the physical chemistry and rheology of existing and proposed polymeric fracturing solutions during enzymatic hydrolysis at high temperatures. Results are to produce a new generation of stimulation fluids that would increase accessible oil and gas reserves, demonstrate the technological utility of a new class or termostable and thermoactive enzymes, and provide a fundamental understanding of the kinetics and mechanism of hydrolysis of galactomannan solutions and gels. ***