Characterization and demulsification of solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions Part 1. Partitioning of clay particles and preparation of emulsions

摘要

Kaolinite clay particles treated with asphaltenes were used to study the partitioning of the clay particles between an oil-in-water emulsion and an aqueous phase. It was found that the interaction energy of the adsorbed particles and the equilibrium ratio of the clay concentration at the oil droplet surface to that in the bulk water were strong functions of the clay contact angle θ, for θ > 65°. For a given initial clay concentration in the bulk water and emulsification conditions, the variation of the oil droplet diameter with θ exhibited a minimum at θ ≈ 65°. Under similar emulsification conditions, a higher initial clay concentration in the bulk water resulted in the formation of smaller oil droplets and a larger volume of creamed emulsion.