Water-in-trichloroethylene emulsions stabilized by uniform carbon microspheres
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
1-17-2012
Abstract
Uniform hard carbon spheres (HCS), synthesized by the hydrothermal decomposition of sucrose followed by pyrolysis, are effective at stabilizing water-in-trichloroethylene (TCE) emulsions. The irreversible adsorption of carbon particles at the TCE-water interface resulting in the formation of a monolayer around the water droplet in the emulsion phase is identified as the key reason for emulsion stability. Cryogenic scanning electron microscopy was used to image the assembly of carbon particles clearly at the TCE-water interface and the formation of bilayers in regions of droplet-droplet contact. The results of this study have potential implications to the subsurface injection of carbon submicrometer particles containing zero-valent iron nanoparticles to treat pools of chlorinated hydrocarbons that are sequestered in fractured bedrock. © 2011 American Chemical Society.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Langmuir
Volume
28
Issue
2
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Venkataraman, Pradeep, Bhanukiran Sunkara, J. E. St. Dennis, Jibao He, Vijay T. John, and Arijit Bose. "Water-in-trichloroethylene emulsions stabilized by uniform carbon microspheres." Langmuir 28, 2 (2012): 1058-1063. doi: 10.1021/la204215x.