Self-depletion flocculation of tetralin oil-in-water emulsions.
Oil-in-water emulsions of slightly soluble oils such as tetralin prepared by high-pressure homogenization and stabilized by sodium dodecyl sulfate undergo depletion flocculation induced by an initially polydisperse droplet size distribution. The smaller droplets flocculate the larger ones; the flocculation can be reversed by gentle sonication. After aging, the flocs disappear because the smaller droplets dissolve through Ostwald ripening. These effects were observed by electroacoustic measurements, supplemented by light scattering.
Djerdjev
Alex M
AM
School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Hunter
Robert J
RJ
Beattie
James K
JK