Freezing of oil--water and oil--saline emulsions

Journal Article · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es60116a013· OSTI ID:7315034

Truong, L; Phillips, C R

The effect of freeze-thaw cycles on the oil content of an emulsion (''breakage'') and on the oil droplet size distribution was determined. The method of Lien and Phillips was used to measure the droplet size distributions of emulsions of tetralin in water and in saline (3.5 percent NaCl) in both aging and freeze-thaw cycles. Oil-to-aqueous-phase ratios of 10 to 50 percent by volume were investigated, using Tween-80 at its critical micelle concentration to stabilize the emulsions. After freeze-thaw cycles, a decrease in the specific surface of the droplets was observed (for example from 8.9 x 10/sup 4/ to 0.67 x 10/sup 4/ cm/sup 2//g for the size range 0.75 to 12.5-..mu..m diameter). Coalescence appears to be the most important breaking mechanism for emulsions in such a cycle. Repetition of cycles did not cause further emulsion breakage but resulted in a gradual shift of the peak in the particle size curve from less than 0.75 to 10 ..mu..m. Breakage of the emulsion increased with both salinity and oil concentration. Extrapolation of the general trends of these results to crude oil--water systems can reasonably be made.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Toronto
• OSTI ID: 7315034
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 10:5; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400301* -- Organic Chemistry-- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties-- (-1987)
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
DECOMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
DROPLETS
EMULSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FREEZING
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OIL SPILLS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PARTICLES
SEAWATER
SIZE
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THAWING
WATER