Adding water droplets to diesel is known to dramatically decrease NOx and smoke emissions. Furthermore water-diesel emulsions have been shown to have a higher reduction in these emissions than water injection into the intake manifold. Unfortunately the shelf-life of such an emulsion is limited by its kinetic stability. The presence of surfactants can significantly modify the sedimentation rate with the introduction of Marangoni stresses. In the case of a vegetable oil-based fuel drops of aqueous sodium hydroxide can yield sodium-carboxylate salt surfactants through saponification. Aqueous sodium hydroxide drops with pH between 11 and 13 are allowed to settle in several oils such as corn, canola, soybean and olive. The deceleration, and in some cases acceleration, of the drops compared to a clean water drop is observed.

Sedimentation of aqueous sodium hydroxide drops in vegetable oils

247th National Meeting (2014)

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