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Interfacial solute flux promotes emulsification at the water|oil interface

Author

Listed:
  • Guillermo S. Colón-Quintana

    (Purdue University)

  • Thomas B. Clarke

    (Purdue University)

  • Jeffrey E. Dick

    (Purdue University
    Purdue University)

Abstract

Emulsions are critical across a broad spectrum of industries. Unfortunately, emulsification requires a significant driving force for droplet dispersion. Here, we demonstrate a mechanism of spontaneous droplet formation (emulsification), where the interfacial solute flux promotes droplet formation at the liquid-liquid interface when a phase transfer agent is present. We have termed this phenomenon fluxification. For example, when HAuCl4 is dissolved in an aqueous phase and [NBu4][ClO4] is dissolved in an oil phase, emulsion droplets (both water-in-oil and oil-in-water) can be observed at the interface for various oil phases (1,2-dichloroethane, dichloromethane, chloroform, and nitrobenzene). Emulsification occurs when AuCl4– interacts with NBu4+, a well-known phase-transfer agent, and transfers into the oil phase while ClO4– transfers into the aqueous phase to maintain electroneutrality. The phase transfer of SCN– and Fe(CN)63– also produce droplets. We propose a microscopic mechanism of droplet formation and discuss design principles by tuning experimental parameters.

Suggested Citation

  • Guillermo S. Colón-Quintana & Thomas B. Clarke & Jeffrey E. Dick, 2023. "Interfacial solute flux promotes emulsification at the water|oil interface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-35964-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35964-9
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