Iranian Journal of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering (Sep 2008)
An Insight into Colloidal Gas Aphron Drainage Using Electrical Conductivity Measurement
Abstract
In the present paper Electrical Conductivity (EC) of Colloidal Gas Aphron (CGA) suspensions was measured for anionic and cationic surfactants (Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) and Tetradecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (TTAB)). Experiments were made for different concentrations of SDS (6, 8.1, 10 mM) and TTAB (2, 3.51, 5 mM). CGA drainage behavior was observed and measured using 1 liter measuring cylinder while recording EC. Studying the results, CGA drainage process was observed as four-phase mechanism, instead of three conventional phases. Regardless of surfactant concentration and type, the drainage process is divided in to absorption, macroscopic, bubble, and microscopic phases. Drainage rate did not change at the end of bubble phase, with the maximum value at the end of absorption phase. Results showed that electrical conductivity is a more sensitive property for studying CGA characterization.