화학공학소재연구정보센터
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol.38, No.6, 2418-2424, 1999
Phase separation of liquid mixtures in the presence of surfactants
The presence of surface-active compounds does not influence the Settling time. of a partially miscible liquid mixture as it phase separates. On the other hand, when the same mixture is agitated isothermally while in its two-phase state, its settling time greatly increases if surfactants are added. This phenomenon is monitored microscopically through a series of direct visualizations and is explained theoretically by applying the model H,showing that phase separation is governed by the convective motion due to capillary forces. These forces induce. a net attraction between droplets which greatly dominates the repulsive forces due to the presence of surfactants.