Foamability of aqueous solutions: Role of surfactant type and concentration (original) (raw)
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A new class of surfactant mixtures is described, which is particularly suitable for studies related to foam dynamics, such as studies of foam rheology, liquid drainage from foams and foam films, and bubble coarsening and rearrangement. These mixtures contain an anionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, and fatty acids (e.g., myristic or lauric) of low concentration. Solutions of these surfactant mixtures exhibit Newtonian behavior, and their viscosity could be varied by using glycerol. Most importantly, the dynamic surface properties of these solutions, such as their surface dilatational modulus, strongly depend on the presence and on the chain-length of fatty acid(s). Illustrative results are shown to demonstrate the dependence of solution properties on the composition of the surfactant mixture, and the resulting effects on foam rheological properties, foam film drainage, and bubble Ostwald ripening. The observed high surface modulus in the presence of fatty acids is explained with the formation of a surface condensed phase of fatty acid molecules in the surfactant adsorption layer. (29) Kralchevsky, P. A.; Danov, K. D.; Pishmanova, C. I.; Kralchevska, S. D.; Christov, N. C.; Ananthapadmanabhan, K. P.; Lips, A. Langmuir 2007, 23, 3538.
Role of surfactant structure on surface and foaming properties
Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2001
The influence of surfactant structure on interface properties was estimated from measurements of the static and dynamic surface tension and the interface complex modulus, as obtained from an image analysis technique based on the oscillating bubble method. A simplified kinetic model of surfactants molecular adsorption at the gas-liquid interface was introduced and the rate of adsorption was determined from measurements of the dynamic surface tension. The mean life time of foams generated from bubbling air through different surfactant solutions was measured using a modified Bikerman device. The major conclusion arising from this study, as expected from basic considerations, was that the chain length of the hydrophobic part of the surfactant plays a determining role with respect to both the kinetic migration to the interfaces and the ensuing surface activity, as shown by the extent of phase delay and foam stability.
Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2019
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The thin film pressure balance (TFPB) technique was used to measure the kinetics of thinning of single foam films and disjoining pressures in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and electrolyte (NaCl). The results were analyzed in view of the Reynolds equation to determine the role of surface forces in film thinning. It was found that film thinning is controlled by surface forces at thicknesses below approximately 200 nm. It was found also that hydrophobic force plays an important role particularly at low SDS and NaCl concentrations. The values of the hydrophobic force constant (K 232) estimated from the film thinning experiments were used to predict the disjoining pressure isotherms using the extended DLVO theory, which were found to be in excellent agreement with experiment. The TFPB technique was also used to measure the equilibrium thicknesses (H e) of the foam films stabilized by a non-ionic surfactant, n-octanol, in the presence of NaCl. At a given ionic strength, H e increased noticeably with increasing octanol concentration at very low concentrations. This observation suggests that hydrophobic force is maximum in the absence of surfactant and decreases with increasing surfactant concentration. The results obtained with the single foam films were used to explain the stability of the three-dimensional foams.
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Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
This work presents coalescence of air bubbles and stability of foams in aqueous solutions of polyoxyethylene (4) lauryl ether (Brij 30), polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether (Brij 35), and polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether (Brij 98). Adsorption of these surfactants at the air−water interface was ...
Study of Foaming Properties and Effect of the Isomeric Distribution of Some Anionic Surfactants
Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, 2008
Using different reaction conditions of photosulfochlorination of n-dodecane, two samples of anionic surfactants of sulfonate type are obtained. Their micellar behavior has been already reported and the relationship between their isomeric distribution and their chemical structures and micellar behaviors have been more thoroughly explored. In this investigation, we screened the foaming properties (foaming power and foam stability) by a standardized method very similar to the Ross–Miles foaming tests to identify which surfactants are suitable for applications requiring high foaming, or, alternatively, low foaming. The results obtained for the synthesized surfactants are compared to those obtained for an industrial sample of secondary alkanesulfonate (Hostapur 60) and to those of a commercial sample of sodium dodecylsulfate used as reference for anionic surfactants. The foam formation and foam stability of aqueous solutions of the two samples of dodecanesulfonate are compared as a function of their isomeric distribution. These compounds show good foaming power characterized in most cases by metastable or dry foams. The highest foaming power is obtained for the sample rich in primary isomers which also produces foam with a relatively high stability. For the sample rich in secondary isomers we observe under fixed conditions a comparable initial foam height but the foam stability turns out to be low. This property is interesting for applications requiring low foaming properties such as dishwashing liquid for machines. The best results are observed near and above the critical micellar concentrations and at 25 °C for both the samples.
Colloids and Interfaces
Aqueous mixtures of cationic hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and nonionic pentaethyleneglycol monododecyl ether (C12E5) are investigated. Adsorption layer properties are systematically studied within a wide concentration range for a 1:1 molar ratio of the surfactants. Surface tension and dilatational rheology measurements are conducted by profile analysis tensiometry. The interfacial data are juxtaposed to drainage kinetics and stability results for microscopic foam films, investigated by microinterferometric thin liquid film instrumentation. The obtained results give experimental evidence of synergistic interactions in the studied solutions, as compared to the corresponding single surfactant systems. Specific runs of dynamic and equilibrium surface tension curves are registered against the total surfactant quantity; the surface dilatational elasticities for the mixtures are systematically higher. A clear correlation is established between adsorption layer performance and...
Coalescence of bubbles and stability of foams in aqueous solutions of Tween surfactants
Chemical Engineering Research & Design, 2011
a b s t r a c t Coalescence of air bubbles and stability of foams in aqueous solutions of Tween 20, 40, 60 and 80 are reported in this work. Adsorption of the surfactants at air-water interface was studied by measuring the surface tension of the surfactant solutions. The surface tension profiles were fitted using a surface equation of state derived from the Gibbs and Langmuir adsorption equations. The critical micelle concentration and surface tension at this concentration were determined. The effect of surfactant concentration on coalescence of air bubbles at flat air-water interface was studied. The role of steric force on coalescence time was investigated. The coalescence time distributions were fitted by the stochastic model. The mean values of the distributions were compared with the predictions of seven film-drainage models. Stability of foams was analyzed by the Ross-Miles test. The initial and residual foam heights were measured at different surfactant concentrations. The stability of foams was compared with the coalescence time of the bubbles.
Langmuir, 2012
Solutions of surfactant−polymer mixtures often exhibit different foaming properties, compared to the solutions of the individual components, due to the strong tendency for formation of polymer−surfactant complexes in the bulk and on the surface of the mixed solutions. A generally shared view in the literature is that electrostatic interactions govern the formation of these complexes, for example between anionic surfactants and cationic polymers. In this study we combine foam tests with model experiments to evaluate and explain the effect of several polymer−surfactant mixtures on the foaminess and foam stability of the respective solutions. Anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants (SDS, C 12 TAB, and C 12 EO 23 ) were studied to clarify the role of surfactant charge. Highly hydrophilic cationic and nonionic polymers (polyvinylamine and polyvinylformamide, respectivey) were chosen to eliminate the (more trivial) effect of direct hydrophobic interactions between the surfactant tails and the hydrophobic regions on the polymer chains. Our experiments showed clearly that the presence of opposite charges is not a necessary condition for boosting the foaminess and foam stability in the surfactant−polymer mixtures studied. Clear foam boosting (synergistic) effects were observed in the mixtures of cationic surfactant and cationic polymer, cationic surfactant and nonionic polymer, and anionic surfactant and nonionic polymer. The mixtures of anionic surfactant and cationic polymer showed improved foam stability, however, the foaminess was strongly reduced, as compared to the surfactant solutions without polymer. No significant synergistic or antagonistic effects were observed for the mixture of nonionic surfactant (with low critical micelle concentration) and nonionic polymer. The results from the model experiments allowed us to explain the observed trends by the different adsorption dynamics and complex formation pattern in the systems studied.
Effects of surfactant adsorption and surface forces on thinning and rupture of foam liquid films
International Journal of Mineral Processing, 2005
The properties of thin liquid films (TLF) are of paramount significance for colloidal disperse systems, and a number of industrial processes, including froth flotation. In flotation, the bubble-particle attachment is controlled by the thinning and rupture of the intervening liquid film between an air bubble and a mineral particle. The froth evolution and its transient stability are also a function of the drainage and rupture of liquid films between air bubbles. Surface-active substances (surfactants) are used as flotation reagents to control the behavior of the liquid films. This paper presents a review of our research in the area of surfactant adsorption, surface forces and liquid films. It mainly focuses on the validation, application and extension of the Stefan-Reynolds theory on the liquid drainage. The extension of the Stefan-Reynolds theory comprises surface forces (disjoining pressure), surface tension variation, caused by the adsorption and diffusion of surfactants. Both the experimental and theoretical results are mostly related to the free (foam) films formed between two bubbles but can be principally extended to emulsion films between two oil drops and wetting films between an air bubble and a solid surface. D