Foams chain length compatibility

Effect of Chain Length Compatibility on Monolayers, Foams, and Macro- and Microemulsions... 

The gas/liquid and liquid/liquid systems are relevant to biomedical and engineering applications. The large interfacial area in foams, macro- and microemulsions is suitable for rapid mass transfer from gas to liquid or liquid to gas in foams and from one liquid to another or vice versa in macro- and microemulsions. The formation and stability of these systems may be influenced by the chain length compatibility which may also influence the flow through porous media behavior of these systems. Therefore, the present communication deals with the effect of chain length compatibility on the properties of monolayers, foams, macro- and microemulsions. An attempt is made to correlate the chain length compatibility effects with surface properties of mixed surfactants and their flow behavior in porous media in relation to enhanced oil recovery. 

Table I shows various surface and microscopic properties such as surface tension, surface viscosity, foaminess (i.e. foam volume generated in a given time) and bubble size in foams of the surfactant solutions as a function of chain length compatibility. The results indicate that a minimum in surface tension, a maximum in surface viscosity, a maximum in foaminess and a minimum in bubble size were observed when both the components of the mixed surfactant system have the same chain length. These results clearly show that the molecular packing at air-water interface influences surface properties of the surfactant solutions, which can influence microscopic characteristics of foams. The effect of chain length compatibility on microscopic and surface properties of surfactant solutions can be explained as reported in the previous section.

Table II shows the effect of chain length compatibility on oil recovery, fluid displacement efficiency, breakthrough time and effective gas mobility in porous media. For gas/liquid systems (e.g. Foams), a maximum in fluid displacement efficiency, a...

Table II. Effect of Chain Length Compatibility on Flow Through Porous Media Behavior of Foams and Macroemulsion Systems...

Figure 9. Effect of Molecular Properties (e.g. Chain Length Compatibility) of Mixed Surfactants on Surface Properties of Foaming Agents, Bubble Size and Heavy Oil Recovery in Porous Media.

The compatibility of structure between foaming surfactant and foam stabilizer carbon chain length, straight or branched, and so forth. 

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