Multi-scale analysis of the effect of surfactants on bubble properties

Z. Jávor*, N. Schreithofer, K. Heiskanen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effect of surfactants on bubble properties was examined in turbulent conditions. A multi-scale analysis was accomplished with the primary aim to identify the relationship between the size-scale determined surface properties leading to the decrease in bubble size. The adsorption of the surfactants triggers chain reactions acting along different size-scales: it diminishes the tension at the air-liquid interface and increases its surface elasticity (micro/nano-scale; 10−10 to 10−5 m) leading to modified coalescence and breakup properties and lower bubble rise velocity (meso-scale; 10−5 to 10−2 m) that finally result a smaller bubble size (macro-scale; >10−2 m). The weakly surface-active DF200 and Pentanol cause a different change in the dynamic properties of the air-liquid interface compared to the strongly surface-active DF250 and PPG leading to differences in size-scale properties and eventually in bubble size. The main result of this work is a comprehensive picture of the dynamics of surface-active molecules affecting bubble size in the presence of random momentum transfer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)170-178
Number of pages9
JournalMinerals Engineering
Volume99
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2016
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Bubble breakup
  • Bubble coalescence
  • Dynamic surface activity
  • Flotation frother
  • Sauter mean diameter
  • Turbulent condition

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