Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan, Vol.38, No.1, 67-73, 2005
Characteristics of selective atomization of polar/nonpolar substances in an oleosus solvent with ultrasonic irradiation
An ultrasonic atomizing method is installed into many chemical process systems. In ultrasonic atomization of ethanol water solution, it was confirmed that the enrichment of the ethanol in the droplets. However, it is imperative that atomizing characteristics of liquid fuels are comprehended, taking into account the use of ultrasonic atomization for combustors. In this work, a performance of selective atomization on hydrocarbons-alcohol mixtures is investigated experimentally from a viewpoint of polarity of the solute and solvent. Preparing several sample mixtures, we compared the compositions of the mist produced by ultrasound with bulk composition. As experimental results, the selective atomization of the polar-nonpolar solution has a different tendency compared with the nonpolar-nonpolar solution. In the case of the polar solute, especially, the solute was enriched in the mist under CMC (critical micelle concentration) in the bulk because of the influence of a surface excess. On the other hand, larger than CMC, the enrichment was not confirmed because the surface excess was saturated and inverted micelle was formed.