Three phase foams (i.e., aqueous foams containing an oil phase) have a variety of practical applications in such areas as enhanced oil recovery, food foams, and in foams containing antifoaming agents. In the present study, we investigated the effects of surfactant micelles and the oil type (polar versus non-polar) in dispersed and solubilized forms on the stability of aqueous foaming systems. The foam stability was studied by the Bartsch test method and the stability of the pseudoemulsion film (that is the film formed between an air-water surface and the surface of the oil drop which is approaching it). In addition, we studied the effect of oil solubilized in the surfactant micelles on foam stability. We measured the second virial coefficient of solutions containing swollen micelles to quantify the micellar interactions. We found that the relative importance of dispersed oil versus solubilized oil in foam stability largely depends on the stability of the pseudoemulsion film and the second virial coefficient.

Role of dispersed vs. solubilized oil in aqueous foam stability

245th National Meeting (2013)

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