PNNL

Abstract

Nile Red is demonstrated as a single dye whose solvatochromism enables selective visualization of two immiscible liquid fluids in a micromodel containing a homogeneous array of pillars creating a porous network. Nile Red dissolves in and partitions between hexadecane as a nonwetting fluid and PEG200 as a hydrophilic fluid that wets the silicon oxide surfaces in the micromodel. Both the absorption spectra and fluorescence emission spectra are sensitive to the solvent environment, such that the two phases can be distinguished by the observed color or the fluorescence emission band. Bright field, hyperspectral, epifluorescence, and confocal fluorescence methods were used to image the micromodel after displacing PEG200 in the model with hexadecane. The use of Nile Red with these imaging methods facilitates visualization of phase identity at specific locations; the interfaces between the two immiscible liquid phases; wetting behavior of the wetting phase within the porous structure; and retention of the wetting phase as thin films around pillars and as bridges across the pore throats. The pillars and wetting phase bridges create a network of obstacles defining a tortuous preferential flow path for the nonwetting phase.