FRAGMENTATION OF PRIMARY FLOCS IN EMULSIONS AND THE SUBSEQUENT REDUCTION OF COALESCENCE

In existing theories emulsion desiabilization is considered as the combined processes of irreversible flocculation and coalescence of dispersed droplets. This approach can be justified when the potential pit characterizing the energy of droplet interaction is sufficiently deep, i.e. excluding small droplet dimensions, strong electrosiatic repulsion and low electrolyte concentrations. For smaller droplet dimensions and stronger electrostatic repulsions the emulsion instability must be considered as a combined process of reversible flocculation and coalescence. In this paper a mathematical model that couples the kinetics of flocculation, coalescence and floe fragmentation is developed in order to quantify the kinetic instability of emulsions with charged submicron droplets. The characteristic limes for flocculation (Smoluchowski's time τ_c) for coalescence (coalescence time τ_c) and for disaggregation (doublet lifetimeτ_d) are considered model parameters. The mathematical model applies to the case when and τ_d<< τ_c, which corresponds to a situation with a small multiplet concentration compared to the concentration of doublets and a singlet-doublet quasi-equilibrium. It is established that at singlet-doublet quasi-equilibrium the rate of the decline in the total droplet concentration is described by second order kinetics in distinction to the exponential time dependence valid for coalescence at irreversible flocculation. The double disintegration reduces the entire coalescence rate, expressed as τ_sm/ τ_d. This reduction is very large at small values of Td. The mathematical model presented can hased on the spontaneous disintegration of doublets predict changes in emulsion stability for model systems and also for technologically important emulsions.     

Coalescence coupled with either coagulation or flocculation in dilute emulsions

In current theories [R.G.P. Borwankar, L.A. Lobo, D.T.G. Wasan, Colloids Surf. 69 (1992) 35; K.D. Danov, N.D. Denkov, D.N. Petsev, R. Borwankar, Langmuir 9 (1993) 1731; S.S. Dukhin, J. Sjöblom, J. Dispers. Sci. Technol. 19 (1998) 311], emulsion destabilization is considered as the combined processes of droplet coagulation/flocculation and coalescence. Irreversible aggregation is usually called coagulation, and the term flocculation is used for reversible aggregation. These theories have different conditions of applicability which are not specified. An approximate criterion for discrimination between coalescence coupled with either coagulation or flocculation in dilute emulsions is proposed. Such discrimination is made possible by comparing the characteristic time for coagulation (Smoluchowski time) with that for floc fragmentation (droplet doublet lifetime, τ_d). As droplet dimension and electrolyte concentration decrease, and the Stern potential increases, τ_d is reduced and flocculation takes place. The quantity τ_d enables one to specify the conditions for the two separate cases. The important role of retarded van der Waals forces, screening length and hydration forces in emulsion coalescence is demonstrated.     

Stark effects on the low energy electronic states of p-benzoquinone single crystals

The Stark effect on the visible absorption spectra of p-benzoquinone single crystals has been measured using modulation techniques. The measurements of second order Stark effects confirm the presence of at least two close lying electronic nπ^* states in both the singlet and triplet systems. Both the origin of the first singlet-singlet and singlet—triplet transition appear as doublets separated by 3.5 and 18 cm^?1, respectively. For the triplet state the low energy component is Stark induced and has not been observed previously in absorption. The doublet components are mixed in the electric field showing that they are of different parity. They are tentatively assigned as inversion doublets of a symmetric double well potential produced by the vibronic interaction of two different electronic nπ^* states.     

Evidence of distinct water species in cellulosic environments from broad-line NMR

Broad-line NMR measurements were made on water in cellulosic samples. The spectra for oriented rayon at 65% relative humidity and room temperature consisted of a visually apparent doublet (S_D) and a narrow singlet (S_N) which was shifted upfield about 7 ppm from the center of the doublet. The doublet separation varied as A(3 cos²θ—1), where θ is the angle between the fiber axis and the magnetic field; the maximum doublet separation was 350 mG at both 15.1 and 56.4 MHz, indicating the doublet is dipolar in origin. The peak-to-peak linewidth of the narrow singlet was orientation and field dependent. The upfield shift of the narrow singlet from the doublet center was field dependent. Spectra for vacuum-treated rayon consisted of only the narrow singlet, which was orientation dependent. The doublet separation decreases with increasing moisture content and is essentially zero for oriented rayon samples at 100% relative humidity; the resulting spectra due to the collapsed doublet and S_N singlet was an asymmetric line. Temperature-dependent measurements were made on oriented rayon at 65% relative humidity with the fiber axis parallel to the magnetic field; when the temperature was increased from about 0° the peak-to-peak linewidth of the doublet halves and the doublet separation decreased. As the temperature was increased from about 30 to about 65°C, a previously unobserved singlet (S_E) became visible. The relative amplitudes of the three lines varied with temperature as follows: The S_E singlet increased, the S_D doublet decreased, and the amplitude of the S_N singlet remained constant. Measurements using oriented cotton samples and randomly packed rayon samples indicated that the NMR line shape of the water spectra depends upon the physical properties of the macromolecular substrate. The doublet component of the spectra is attributed to a water species (S_D) which is highly bonded to the macromolecular substrate. The S_E singlet is attributed to an energetic water species (S_E) which is rapidly tumbling in the macromolecular environment. The S_N singlet is not due to free water.     

Aging mechanisms of oil-in-water emulsions based on a bioemulsifier produced by Yarrowia lipolytica

The aging mechanisms of oil-in-water emulsions prepared with Yansan, a bioemulsifier produced by a Brazilian wild strain of Yarrowia lipolytica, IMUFRJ 50682, in glucose-based fermentation medium, were studied and compared with those prepared with Gum Arabic. Oil-in-water emulsions obtained by combining three different organic phases, perfluoro-n-hexane, n-hexadecane and toluene, with two aqueous buffers of different pH, and two bioemulsifiers, were studied through the evolution of the mean droplet size. The emulsions were prepared by sonication and their droplet size distribution was followed for 60 days at 301 K using image analysis. The results indicate that the aging mechanisms of the studied emulsions depend mainly on the bioemulsifier and on the pH of the medium. It is shown that the emulsions containing Gum Arabic age by coalescence while Yansan-based emulsions change their aging mechanisms from coalescence at pH 3 to molecular diffusion at pH 7.     

Coalescence in quiescent polymer blends with a high content of the dispersed phase

Coalescence in molten quiescent polymer blends induced by van der Waals forces is studied theoretically. Interaction between a droplet and its nearest neighbor keeping spherical shape during drainage of the matrix trapped between them is considered. It is assumed that droplets with time dependent radius R or effective droplets with radius R + h_c/2, where h_c is the critical inter-droplet distance for breakup of the matrix trapped between them, are randomly distributed in the blend through the whole course of the coalescence. Various approaches to calculation of the average time of coalescence, t_c (calculation with preaveraged distance between a droplet and its nearest neighbor at the start of coalescence, h₀, direct averaging of t_c and averaging coalescence frequency, 1/t_c) are compared. Calculated dependence of R on the time of coalescence, t, is compared with experimental results for polypropylene/ethylene–propylene rubber (PP/EPR) blends with EPR content from 15 to 30 wt.%. Calculations using average h₀ and direct averaging of t_c lead to more-less linear dependence of R³ on t. Bare averaging of 1/t_c leads to a steeper than linear dependence of R³ on t and to unreasonably high rate of the coalescence; averaging of 1/t_c with exclusion of pairs with elapsed coalescence time leads to decreasing rate of R³ growth but unreasonably low rate of coalescence. Theories based on the concept of effective droplet radius give smaller differences among various methods of calculations of t_c than the theories assuming random distribution of the droplets. Experimental results show decreasing slope of R³ vs. t dependence, especially for a higher content of dispersed EPR. Theories using average h₀ or direct averaging of t_c predict somewhat smaller rate of coalescence than that experimentally determined for PP/EPR blends. Reasons of these differences are discussed.     

Influence of HPAM on W/O emulsion separation properties

The present study reports on the influence of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) on essential w/o emulsion properties. The characterization has been undertaken with low field NMR to follow droplet sizes and distributions, sedimentation and coalescence kinetic, bench-scale electrocoalescence (E_crit) experiments to follow emulsion stability changes, and electrorheology to detect changes in the viscosity upon applying an external electric field. The result is that HPAM does not basically influence the droplet size distribution (DSD) and the stability level of the emulsions as can be expected of bulk polymers. However, there seems to be an interaction between added demulsifiers either through direct molecular interaction or via an interfacial complexation.     

Master curves for elastic and plastic properties of highly concentrated emulsions

Critical comparison of dependences of elastic and plastic properties of highly concentrated emulsions (so-called “compressed” emulsions) on the concentration and droplet sizes is performed. The studied emulsions of water-in-oil type are so-called “liquid explosives.” They are characterized by different mean sizes and different droplet size distributions of the dispersed phase. Different average values (D _av, D ₃₂, and D ₄₃) are used as characteristics of droplet sizes. Experiments are carried out with emulsions of two concentrations. Aqueous phase (dispersed droplets) is presented by supercooled solutions of inorganic salt in water in a metastable state. The concentration limit of the existence of highly concentrated emulsions is determined by the condition of the closest packing of liquid droplets, which lies in the φ* = 0.77–0.80 range. In addition, there is a limiting value of the maximal size of droplets. This limiting value depends on the concentration and meets the requirement that droplets should be small enough for the solution to exist in a supercooled state. The elastic modulus and the yield stress of emulsions studied are proportional to the square of the reciprocal linear size of droplets, which contradicts some theoretical models, according to which these parameter should be proportional to the reciprocal size of droplets. Using the obtained experimental data, we constructed generalized dependences of the elastic modulus and the yield stress on the concentration and size of droplets. These characteristics are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Mixed-crystal infrared studies of chain folding in polyethylene single crystals: Effect of crystallization temperature

Mixed crystals of polyethylene (PEH) and various-molecular-weight perdeuterated polyethylenes (PEDs) have been prepared at 80°C and their infrared spectra compared with those of samples grown at 55°C. Concentrations of 80 PEH/1 PED were required in the former case to eliminate segregation effects whereas 40 PEH/1 PED sufficed in the latter. Resolution of the observed CD₂ bend contour was most reasonably achieved with a crystalline singlet and two crystalline doublets, in addition to a contribution (ca. 15%) from the noncrystalline component. The singlet, comprising about 20% of the crystalline area, contains contributions from both isolated stems and (200) adjacent reentry folding. Random reentry folding is therefore not a predominant mode of chain organization in polyethylene single crystals. The inner of the two doublets arises from adjacent reentry folding along single (110) planes, and is present for all PED molecular weights. For low-molecular-weight fractions this splitting is consistent with the number of stems of one PED molecule allowed in the crystal. The outer doublet arises from multiple (110) plane adjacency, and is present for intermediate and high molecular weights. An analysis of both doublets suggests that at high molecular weights a single molecule can crystallize with noncontiguous regions of adjacent stem domains.     

Effects of Salts Containing Mono-, Di-, and Trivalent Ions on Electrical and Rheological Properties of Oil-Water Interface in Presence of Cationic Surfactant: Importance in the Stability of Oil-in-Water Emulsions

Many industrial applications of oil-in-water emulsions involve salts containing ions of different valence. The properties of the oil-water interface (e.g., interfacial tension, zeta potential and interfacial shear viscosity) are strongly influenced by the presence of these salts. This work investigates the role of NaCl, CaCl₂ and AlCl₃ on these properties of the hexane-water interface in presence of a cationic surfactant, viz., hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide. Addition of salt enhanced the adsorption of surfactant molecules at the hexane-water interface, which increased the interfacial charge density, and consequently, the zeta potential. Interfacial shear viscosity significantly decreased in the presence of salt. The effectiveness of salt at a given concentration was in the sequence: AlCl₃ > CaCl₂ > NaCl. The hexane-in-water emulsions coarsened with time due to the coalescence of hexane droplets. The increase in droplet size with time was analyzed by a model based on the frequency of rupture of the thin aqueous film. The rate constants for coalescence were determined. The rate of coalescence increased in presence of salt.      

A correlation study of boron dimers and trimers

We have carried out ab initio molecular orbital studies of neutral and charged boron dimers and trimers, using a large basis set. Electron correlation effects are included through the techniques of fourth order many body perturbation theory. Results for total energies, geometries, binding energies, and binary fragmentation energies are presented, and where possible compared with published results. Stabilities of the geometries considered are further studied through a vibrational-mode analysis. The ground state of B₂ is predicted to be a triplet; of B ₂ ^? , a quartet, and of B ₂ ⁺ a doublet. The ground state of B₃ is a triangular doublet, of B ₃ ^? a linear singlet and of B ₃ ⁺ a triangular singlet.     

Influence of oil polarity on droplet growth in oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by a weakly adsorbing biopolymer or a nonionic surfactant

The influence of oil type (n-hexadecane, 1-decanol, n-decane), droplet composition (hexadecane:decanol), and emulsifier type (Tween 20, gum arabic) on droplet growth in oil-in-water emulsions was studied. Droplet size distributions of emulsions were measured over time (0-120 h) by laser diffraction and ultrasonic spectroscopy. Emulsions containing oil molecules of low polarity and low water solubility (hexadecane) were stable to droplet growth, irrespective of the emulsifier used to stabilize the droplets. Emulsions containing oil molecules of low polarity and relatively high water solubility (decane) were stable to coalescence, but unstable to Ostwald ripening, irrespective of emulsifier. Droplet growth in emulsions containing oil molecules of relatively high polarity and high water solubility (decanol) depended on emulsifier type. Decanol droplets stabilized by Tween 20 were stable to droplet growth in concentrated emulsions but unstable when the emulsions were diluted. Decanol droplets stabilized by gum arabic exhibited rapid and extensive droplet growth, probably due to a combination of Ostwald ripening and coalescence. We proposed that coalescence was caused by the relatively low interfacial tension at the decanol-water boundary, which meant that the gum arabic did not absorb strongly to the droplet surfaces and therefore did not prevent the droplets from coming into close proximity.     

Molecular fragmentations: Part IV. The mass spectral fragmentation of carbon tetrachloride

MINDO/3 calculations have been made of the molecular structures and energies of seven isomeric forms of the molecular cation (CCl₄)⁺, of the mass spectral fragment pairs:

and also of a number of neutral fragment pairs. Reaction energy profiles have been calculated for two fragmentations of (CCl₄)⁺, into [(CCl₂)⁺ + Cl₂], and into [(CCl₃)⁺ + Cl^?], in the latter of which the reaction proceeds via a rather stable intermediate; for the fragmentation of three electronic states of (CCl₃)⁺ into [(CCl₂)⁺ + Cl^?], where the ground singlet state and first triplet state of (CCl₃⁺ yield the ground doublet state of (CCl₂)⁺, but the first excited singlet of (CCl₃)⁺ yields the first excited doublet of (CCl₂)⁺ ; and for the fragmentation of the ground state of (CCl₃)⁺ into [(CCl)⁺ + Cl₂].     

A Videomicroscopic Investigation of Coupled Reversible Flocculation and Coalescence at Singlet-Doublet Equilibrium in an O/W Emulsion of Low Density Contrast

Video enhanced microscopy (VEM) enables direct investigation of dilute emulsions. A practical and effective preparative technique utilizes microslides, which are flat, rectangular microcapillaries made from borosilicate glass. Experimental difficulties due to droplet sedimentation and droplet-microslide wall interaction can be drastically reduced, even eliminated, by the use of low density contrast emulsions, i.e. emulsions where the densities of the dispersed and continuous phases are not very different. The dichlorodecane (DCD)-in-water emulsion is an example of such a system. This system.can as such be used for measurement of the time of the elementary act of coalescence, calculated from the evolution in the droplet size distribution. The developing distributions can be determined through automated VEM.

In this paper we discuss the perspective for elaboration of a standard method for the determination of an averaged time for the elementary act of coalescence. The experimental basis is automated measurement of the time dependence of the droplet size distribution, as applied to dilute DCD/w emulsions at singlet-doublet equilibrium.     

Materials based on solid-stabilized emulsions

Solid-stabilized emulsions are obtained by shearing a mixture of oil, water, and solid colloidal particles. In this article, we present a large variety of materials, resulting from a limited coalescence process. Direct (o/w), inverse (w/o), and multiple (w/o/w) emulsions that are surfactant-free and monodisperse were produced in a very wide droplet size range, from micrometers to centimeters. These materials exhibit original properties compared with surfactant-stabilized emulsions: outstanding stability with respect to coalescence and unusual rheological behavior. For such systems, the elastic storage modulus G' is not controlled by interfacial tension but by the interfacial elasticity resulting from the strong adhesion between the solid particles adsorbed at the oil-water interface. Due to the wide accessible droplet size range, concentrated emulsions can be extremely fluid while emulsions with low droplet volume fraction can behave as solids.     

Stabilization of Oil-in-Water Emulsions with SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> Nanoparticles

Stabilization of oil-in-water Pickering emulsions with SiO₂ and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles has been studied. Emulsions containing three-dimensional gel networks formed by aggregated nanoparticles in the dispersion media have been shown to be stable with respect to flocculation, coalescence, and creaming. Concentration ranges in which emulsions are kinetically stable have been determined. Stabilization with mixed Ludox HS-30 and Ludox CL SiO₂ nanoparticles leads to the formation of stable emulsions at a weight ratio between the nanoparticles equal to 2 and pH 6.7. In the case of stabilization with Ludox CL and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, systems resistant to aggregation and sedimentation are obtained at pH 8. The use of mixed Ludox HS-30 and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles has not resulted in the formation of emulsions stable with respect to creaming, with such emulsions appearing to be resistant only to coalescence at pH 2–6.     

Line tension and its influence on droplets and particles at surfaces

In this review we examine the influence of the line tension τ on droplets and particles at surfaces. The line tension influences the nucleation behavior and contact angle of liquid droplets at both liquid and solid surfaces and alters the attachment energetics of solid particles to liquid surfaces. Many factors, occurring over a wide range of length scales, contribute to the line tension. On atomic scales, atomic rearrangements and reorientations of submolecular components give rise to an atomic line tension contribution τ_atom (～1 nN), which depends on the similarity/dissimilarity of the droplet/particle surface composition compared with the surface upon which it resides. At nanometer length scales, an integration over the van der Waals interfacial potential gives rise to a mesoscale contribution |τ_vdW| ～ 1–100 pN while, at millimeter length scales, the gravitational potential provides a gravitational contribution τ_grav ～ +1–10 μN. τ_grav is always positive, whereas, τ_vdW can have either sign. Near wetting, for very small contact angle droplets, a negative line tension may give rise to a contact line instability. We examine these and other issues in this review.     

Vertical triple ionization of ethyne molecules in triple-electron-transfer collisions with O beam ions

Triple-electron-transfer (TET) collisions of 6 keV O²⁺ beam ions with gas-phase ethyne molecules were studied with mass spectrometric techniques. Measurement of the kinetic energies of the O⁻ ions produced yielded triple-ionization energies (TIEs) of ethyne to states of its triply charged positive ion, once those transitions corresponding to the transfer of three electrons in a single collision were identified: eight such peaks were found between 65.1 and 80.1 eV. Possible O²⁺ states in the beam include ³P, ¹D, ¹S; according to spin conservation the singlet ions should populate only doublet states of C₂H₂³⁺, while projectiles in triplet states would populate both its doublet and quadruplet states. Using ab initio propagator calculations for the triple-ionization transitions, the TIEs and quantum numbers for the states of C₂H₂³⁺ associated with each peak observed in the TET spectrum could be identified. The overall match between the theoretical and experimental energies was good, so that it could be established that the population of quadruplet states was comparable in intensity with that for doublets. This is consistent with previous evidence for O²⁺(³P) being the dominant state in the projectile beam used.     

Direct observation of rotational energy transfer in ammonia by time-resolved infrared—microwave double resonance

An N₂O laser is used to pump the ground vibrational state (8,7) inversion doublet of ¹⁴NH₃ while simultaneously monitoring other ground state doublets. Time-resolved rotational energy transfer signals are observed in accordance with known selection values. Absolute rates of rotational energy transfer processes are estimated.     

An Electrorheological Study on the Behavior of Water‐in‐Crude Oil Emulsions Under Influence of a DC Electric Field and Different Flow Conditions

The influence of an applied DC electric field on viscosity and droplet size distribution of different water‐in‐crude oil emulsions was monitored in order to investigate the induction of coalescence of the water droplets. The effects caused by the voltage imposition were studied by rheological analysis and the validity of the obtained results was discussed, comparing with the features of real electrocoalcscer systems. A low field NMR technique (CPMG NMR) and digital video microscopy (DVM) were used to elucidate the behavior of the emulsions. Experiments performed at low shear rate with increasing electric field magnitude showed an increase in viscosity until a critical value. E_CRIT was reached. Thereafter coalescence occurred and viscosity decreased irreversibly below its initial value. The electrorheological behavior of the emulsions can be attributed to the organization (flocculation) of water droplets induced by the electric field, accompanied by an increase in viscosity. The structure breaks down as the shear rate is increased, leading to a decrease in viscosity. Experiments performed at high shear showed only a small decline in the viscosity. Although it was evident that coalescence took place, it did not involve the whole sample, because the electrodes were uncoated. As a direct consequence, the mean value of the droplet size within the emulsion did not change noticeably. Nonetheless this mean value was less recurrent and the formation of droplets of very large diameter occurred.