Abstract
Adhesion behavior of CaCO3 particles (size 10-20μm) to kerosene oil droplets in aqueous solutions, with or without surfactants, have been studied.
When mixed with sufficient volume of oil, CaCO3 particles in surfactant-free solutions easily adhered to and floated with oil droplets at and above the natural pH (9.7) of the CaCO3 aqueous suspension. The adhesion mechanisms of hydrophilic CaCO3 particles and oil droplets at different pHs were discussed, based on the electrokinetic data of CaCO3 particles and oil droplets and on the three-phase contactangles at calcite cleavage surfaces.
Effects of two surfactants, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and sodium oleate on particle-droplet adhesion behavior were examined. The difference in adhesion behavior by these surfactant was discussed, in terms of stability of the oil droplets and hydrophobicity of the solid surface.
