Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Using nanoparticles for adsorbing asphaltene was known as an efficient method among researchers for crude oil upgrading. In this study, zeolite-zirconia-copper nanocomposites (NCs) have been synthesized and characterized with Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX). Then, CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>-oil interfacial tension (IFT) tests, Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, asphaltene precipitation tests at static phase, and dynamic CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> flooding tests were performed in the presence of NCs and the results were compared with zeolite nanoparticles. Based on the characterization results, zirconia-copper particles were distributed at the surface of zeolite with total dimensions less than 30 nm, and the specific surface areas of the NCs (327.82 m<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>/g) was less than the pure zeolite (369.48 m<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>/g). It was seen that NCs had a greater asphaltene adsorption capacity and the application of decreasing asphaltene precipitation was higher in comparison to the zeolite nanoparticles. Accordingly, NCs were selected for performing dynamic CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> tests and investigation of the permeability and porosity reduction parameters at obtained static condition. After adding NCs at the dynamic phase, asphaltene depositions that occured after CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> injection was decreased and permeability/porosity reduction parameters were improved.</jats:p>