Chitosan as a Biopolymer in the EOR Method: A Literature Study

Abstract

Writing this article aims to study the potential of shrimp shell waste to become a biopolymer that can be used in Enhanced Oil Recovery. Indonesia's oil production has decreased, one solution that can be done is Enhanced Oil Recovery, especially chemical injections in the form of polymers. Shrimp shell waste is quite abundant in Indonesia, but its utilization is not optimal. Shrimp shells contain chitin which can be processed into chitosan. Chitosan from shrimp shells can be developed as a biopolymer to increase the viscosity of water and reduce the mobility ratio of water and oil. The writing method used is to review several articles related to the processing of shrimp shells into chitosan biopolymer and polymer injection. Shrimp shell contains 15,33% chitin and the quality of the resulting chitosan has a Degree of Deacetylene (DD) value of 69,87%. Biopolymer obtained from the synthesis of shrimp shells can increase the viscosity of water and has the potential as an injection material in Enhanced Oil recovery, especially chemical injections that can increase the recovery of oil production.