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Multiple phase inversion of emulsions stabilized by in situ surface activation of CaCO3 Nanoparticles via Adsorption of Fatty Acids

Cui, Z. -G.; Cui, C. -F.; Zhu, Y.; Binks, B. P.

Authors

Z. -G. Cui

C. -F. Cui

Y. Zhu



Abstract

The in situ surface activation of raw CaCO3 nanoparticles by interaction with a series of sodium carboxylates of chain length between 6 and 12 as well as sodium 2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (AOT) was studied, and the impact of this on the stabilization and phase inversion of toluene-water emulsions was assessed. By using complementary experiments including measurement of particle zeta potentials, adsorption isotherms of amphiphile, and relevant contact angles, the mechanism of this activation was revealed. The results show that hydrophilic CaCO3 can be surface activated by interaction with sodium carboxylates and AOT even if they are not surface-active themselves. Both the electrostatic interaction between the positive charges on particle surfaces and the negative charges of anionic amphiphile headgroups and the chain-chain interactions of the amphiphile result in monolayer adsorption of the amphiphile at the particle-water interface. This transforms the particles from hydrophilic to partially hydrophobic such that they become surface-active and stabilize oil-in-water O/W(1) emulsions and induce O/W(1) to water-in-oil W/O phase inversion, depending on the chain length of the carboxylate molecules. At high amphiphile concentration, bilayer or hemimicelle adsorption may occur at the particle-water surface, rendering particles hydrophilic again and causing their desorption from the oil-water interface. A second phase inversion, W/O to O/W(2), may occur depending on the surface activity of the amphiphile. CaCO3 nanoparticles can therefore be made good stabilizers of both O/Wand W/O emulsions once surface activated by mixing with traces of suitable anionic amphiphile.

Citation

Cui, Z. -., Cui, C. -., Zhu, Y., & Binks, B. P. (2012). Multiple phase inversion of emulsions stabilized by in situ surface activation of CaCO3 Nanoparticles via Adsorption of Fatty Acids. Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids, 28(1), 314-320. https://doi.org/10.1021/la204021v

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 13, 2011
Publication Date 2012-02
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal LANGMUIR
Print ISSN 0743-7463
Electronic ISSN 1520-5827
Publisher American Chemical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 28
Issue 1
Pages 314-320
DOI https://doi.org/10.1021/la204021v
Keywords Spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; General Materials Science; Surfaces and Interfaces; Condensed Matter Physics
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/424091