Screening of Surfactant Foaming Properties Using the Gas-Sparging Method: Design of an Optimal Protocol

Foaming properties of five model surfactants, namely, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), polyoxyethylene 23 lauryl ether (Brij L23), polysorbate 20 (Tween 20), and polysorbate 80 (Tween 80), have been compared as a function of experimental conditions using the gas-sparging method. The influence of surfactant concentration relative to the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and three process parameters—frit porosity, gas flow rate, and preset volume of foam (or bubbling time)—was studied by means of a 2^4–1 factorial design. Three foaming properties were considered: foam capacity, foam stability, and maximal foam density. At the CMC, SLES, SDS, Tween 20, and Brij L23 were indistinguishable, all having very high foaming capacity and stability, regardless of process conditions. At 0.1 CMC, differences among them were highlighted especially at the lowest frit porosity coupled to the highest gas flow rate. Those conditions are thus recommended when a rapid screening of surfactant foaming performances is needed.     

泡排井用起泡剂室内评价及影响因素研究

起泡剂作为泡排工艺的核心化学助剂,在现场实际应用前,对其各项性能的评价是必不可少的一个环节。本文对目前使用较为广泛的UT-11C型起泡剂开展了室内研究,采用经典的静态评价方法,并结合自行设计的泡沫管流可视化实验装置进行动态评价。研究结果表明:该型起泡剂起泡和稳泡性能良好,起泡基液浓度、温度和矿化度对起泡剂有较为明显的影响,起泡剂浓度5‰、温度40℃时起泡性能最佳,而在矿化度高于60 g/L的环境中泡沫稳定性极差。通过静态、动态评价实验方法的综合考查,能够更加全面的认识起泡剂性能。     

The addition of ethanol as defoamer in fermentation of rhamnolipids

BACKGROUND: Rhamnolipids biosurfactants mainly produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa have a wide range of potential applications. However, production of rhamnolipids on a large scale is constrained by severe foaming in fermentation. This study addressed the applicability of organic solvents as both defoamer and carbon substrate in rhamnolipids fermentation. RESULTS: In this work, although isopropanol and n‐butanol performed better defoaming activities against rhamnolipid‐induced foams, ethanol was focused on as a potential defoamer due to its high bioavailability and low toxicity in a shaking culture of P. aeruginosa ZJU. The most appropriate dose of ethanol addition was determined to be 1% (v/v) and the best time for addition was after 48 h of culture in shaking flasks. The capability of ethanol to control foaming was further illustrated during rhamnolipids fermentation in 2 L and 50 L bioreactors. In both fermentations, the addition of ethanol not only suppressed severe foaming but also supported cell growth. CONCLUSIONS: The use of ethanol as a defoamer is a potential strategy to avoid undesirable foam in fermentation of biosurfactant. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synergistic Effects between Anionic and Sulfobetaine Surfactants for Stabilization of Foams Tolerant to Crude Oil in Foam Flooding

In foam flooding, foams stabilized by conventional surfactants are usually unstable in contacting with crude oil, which behaves as a strong defoaming agent. In this article, synergistic effects between different surfactants were utilized to improve foam stability against crude oil. Targeted to reservoir conditions of Daqing crude oil field, China (45 °C, salinity of 6778 mg L⁻¹, pH = 8–9), foams stabilized by typical anionic surfactants fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether sulfate (AES) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) show low composite foam index (200–500 L s) and low oil tolerance index (0.1–0.2). However, the foam stability can be significantly improved by mixing the anionic surfactant with a sulfobetaine surfactant, which behaves as a foam stabilizer increasing the half-life of foams, and those with longer alkyl chain behave better. As an example, by mixing AES and SDS with hexadecyl dimethyl hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine (C₁₆HSB) at a molar fraction of 0.2 (referring to total surfactant, not including water), the maximum composite foaming index and oil tolerance index can be increased to 3000/5000 L s and 1.0/4.0, respectively, at a total concentration between 3 and 5 mM. The attractive interaction between the different surfactants in a mixed monolayer as reflected by the negative β^s parameter is responsible for the enhancement of the foam stabilization, which resulted in lower interfacial tensions and therefore negative enter (E), spreading (S), and bridging (B) coefficients of the oil. The oil is then emulsified as tiny droplets dispersed in lamellae, giving very stable pseudoemulsion films inhibiting rupture of the bubble films. This made it possible to utilize typical conventional anionic surfactants as foaming agents in foam flooding.     

Cells Were a More Important Foaming Factor than Free Rhamnolipids in Fermentation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa E03-40 for High Rhamnolipid Production

Rhamnolipids are among the best‐known biosurfactants. Severe foaming occurs in aerobic rhamnolipid fermentation and negatively affects operation and economics of the biosurfactant production. In this study the foaming properties were examined with samples taken along a Pseudomonas aeruginosa fermentation that produced 55 g l^?1 rhamnolipids with a maximum volumetric productivity of 0.080 g l^?1 h^?1 and a maximum specific productivity of 0.013 g g^?1 h^?1. For a better understanding of the process, the broth samples were also centrifuged to prepare cell‐free supernatants and cell suspensions in water, and all samples were evaluated under fixed foaming conditions. In addition to the time profiles of foam rise, the initial foaming rates and maximum foam volumes were determined. Contrary to the general assumption, the cells, not rhamnolipids, were the main foaming agents in the fermentation. Soluble components including rhamnolipids had secondary roles. Supernatant foaming was higher after the culture entered the rhamnolipid‐producing stationary phase; however, the foaming appeared to decrease with increasing rhamnolipid concentrations at high concentrations (>15 g l^?1). The pH effects on foaming of broths, supernatants, and cell suspensions were also studied. Broth foaming was 55 and 80 % less at pH 5.5 and 5.0, respectively, compared to that at pH 6.5. Cell growth and rhamnolipid production at lower pH should be included in future studies. In addition, strain selection or genetic engineering and medium modification to reduce cell hydrophobicity are suggested as useful strategies to address the foaming issue of rhamnolipid fermentation.     

无患子皂素水提液发酵精制联产表面活性剂鼠李糖脂

以无患子皂素水提水解液为底物,发酵生产生物表面活性剂,在精制无患子皂素的同时发酵联产生物表面活性剂鼠李糖脂。经铜绿假单胞菌发酵后发酵完成液中不含葡萄糖,葡萄糖的消耗速率与接种量成正相关,在发酵液中额外添加大豆油可促进表面活性剂亲油基团的生成,溶液表面活性进一步提高。发酵后溶液中表面活性物质浓度达到50.8g/L,比对照组提高了16.1%,溶液表面张力明显降低。接种10%的菌种发酵获得的无患子皂素复合产物干粉其临界胶束浓度由10g/L降低到2.5g/L,临界胶束浓度下的复合产物水溶液表面张力比未接种菌种的低18.67%,复合产物具有很好的起泡性能及更高的泡沫稳定性。     

Experimental Investigation of the Mechanism of Foaming Agent Concentration Affecting Foam Stability

With the aim of determining the effect of foaming agent concentration (FAC) on foam stability, the half‐life of a selection of typical foaming agents was investigated at different concentrations using the FoamScan^® instrument. The surface tension of the bulk solution after foaming was tested using a surface tension meter. The FAC had a significant effect on foam stability at concentrations <1%, and a weak relationship at concentrations >1%. A significant turning point in the plot of foam stability versus FAC indicated maximum foam stability. The concentration at this point was defined as the optimal stability concentration, which is a guide in foam application. The micelles were thermodynamically unstable at low concentrations and degraded into surfactant solution, but were extremely stable at high surfactant concentrations that did not affect the stability of the foam. A turning point was also observed in the plot of surface tension versus FAC, beyond which the surface tension remained constant; the concentration at this point was defined as the no spherical micelle concentration. The influence of FAC on foam stability is explained in terms of mean bubble diameter (d_mb) and bubble size distribution.     

可断键均三嗪脂肪磺酸盐表面活性剂的泡沫性能研究

采用改进的Ross-Miles法研究了4种不同烷基链长的可断键均三嗪脂肪磺酸盐表面活性剂(OSEAT、DSEAT、TSEAT、HSEAT)的泡沫性能,考察了质量浓度、温度、Ca2+浓度对它们泡沫性能的影响。结果表明,OSEAT的抗钙能力最强,其起泡性和稳泡性几乎不受Ca2+浓度的影响;DSEAT的起泡性最好,在0.46 g/L时达到最大发泡力185 mm,且抗温能力强,当Ca2+浓度小于200 mg/L时,其抗钙能力比较强;TSEAT的起泡性较好,且具有一定的抗温、抗钙能力;HSEAT在水溶液中稳泡性最优,其发泡力随温度的升高而增大,55℃时达到最大值144 mm。与普通表面活性剂C12-LAS的泡沫性能比较,DSEAT发泡能力比C12-LAS强,泡沫稳定与C12-LAS接近。     

无机电解质对十二烷基硫酸钠性质影响的研究

选择不同类型的无机电解质(NaCl、Na2SO4、Na3PO4、MgCl2、AlCl3),考察了电解质对十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)表面张力、临界胶束浓度、润湿力、发泡力、乳化力的影响规律。实验表明,无机电解质对SDS的CMC影响显著,随着无机盐的加入,CMC降低,表面活性增强。当加入的氯化钠浓度达到0.3mol/L时,SDS的CMC降到了原来的十分之一,高价位离子对CMC影响大于低价位离子,同价位不同离子影响差别不大;SDS润湿性、乳化性、泡沫性能较好,加入电解质后,其润湿性增强,乳化性、泡沫高度和稳泡性降低。     

油田发泡剂的稳定性能改良的研究

研究了在相同体积,搅拌时间及搅拌转速下,不同添加剂对油田开发泡剂的起泡量,泡沫均匀程度及泡沫中衰期的影响,取得了较佳工艺条件。     

Effect of Temperature on Foaming Ability and Foam Stability of Typical Surfactants Used for Foaming Agent

Foam has extensive applications in a wide range of industrial fields. Some surfactants are used as foaming agents in the preparation of foam. The performance of the foaming agent directly affects the application of the foam. In this paper, experiments were designed and conducted to reveal the influence of temperature on foaming performance of 10 typical anionic, cationic, nonionic, and amphiprotic surfactants. They were exposed to different temperature conditions to measure the foaming capacity (FC), foaming expansion (FE), and foam’s half-life. FC and FE represent foaming ability (FA), and half-life represents foam stability (FS). The results show that the FC increased at elevated foaming temperature, while FS decreased with rising temperature. Anionic surfactants are less affected by temperature and have better FA and longer FS. It seems that 20–30 °C is an ideal foaming temperature. This study lays an important foundation for the efficient preparation and utilization of foam in industrial fields.     

菜籽粕蛋白质混凝土发泡剂的制备及性能

以菜籽粕为原料,采用氢氧化钠、乙醇、硫酸铵提取的菜籽粕蛋白质溶液与水以体积比2∶1混合作基液,分别掺入一定量不同类型的表面活性剂进行复配,制备蛋白质类混凝土发泡剂。通过测定复配体系的发泡高度和稳泡时间优化复配方案,并测定复配前后泡沫性能最优时试样的表面张力和黏度。结果表明,在乙醇提取液中掺入3.0 g/L SDS+0.5 g/L CTAB+2.0 g/L SDBS进行复配时增效作用最好,发泡高度达110 mm,稳泡时间47h。复配后发泡剂的表面张力由43.47 mN/m降低到25.75 mN/m,黏度由4.20 mPa.s增加到4.50 mPa.s。通过对比表明,复配发泡剂的性能在发泡性和稳泡性方面已经超过某些市售发泡剂。     

基于响应曲面法的三相泡沫灭火剂基础配方优化设计

为得到发泡及稳定性能优异的三相泡沫,响应曲面法优化设计三相泡沫灭火剂基础配方。通过单因素实验确定表面活性剂及固相粉体为SDS、Fc-134、6501、2000目（6.91 μm）合成云母粉,以发泡高度及稳定时间为响应值,研究其交互作用。利用Box-Behnken方法,建立的二次回归模型显著可靠,该模型预测SDS、Fc-134、6501浓度分别为2.64%,0.096%,3%,合成云母添加量为10 g时,为最优组合,预测发泡高度1533.86 ml,稳定时间12.8792 min,实验得到发泡高度为1550 ml,稳定时间为12 min,误差分别为1.05%,6.82%。与未优化三相泡沫比较在发泡高度及稳定时间分别提高14.8%、26.3%。结果表明,经优化设计三相泡沫发泡及稳定性能较未优化三相泡沫有明显提高且响应曲面法建立的预测模型误差较小,因此,该模型可用于提升三相泡沫灭火剂的发泡及稳定性能,为三相泡沫灭火剂配方设计提供参考。     

Bulk and bubble-scale experimental studies of influence of nanoparticles on foam stability

Influence of silicon oxide(SiO_2) and aluminum oxide(Al_2O_3) nanoparticles on the stability of nanoparticles and sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS) mixed solution foams was studied at bulk and bubble-scale. Foam apparent viscosity was also determined in Hele-Shaw cell In order to investigate the foam performance at static and dynamic conditions. Results show that the maximum adsorption of surfactant on the nanoparticles occurs at 3 wt% surfactant concentration. Foam stability increases while the foamability decreases with the increasing nanoparticle concentration. However, optimum nanoparticle concentration corresponding to maximum foam stability was obtained at 1.0 wt% nanoparticle concentration for the hydrophilic SiO_2/SDS and Al_2O_3/SDS foams. Foam performance was enhanced with increasing nanoparticles hydrophobicity. Air-foams were generally more stable than CO_2 foams.Foam apparent viscosity increased in the presence of nanoparticles from 20.34 mPa·s to 84.84 mPa·s while the film thickness increased from 27.5 μm to 136 μm. This study suggests that the static and dynamic stability of conventional foams could be improved with addition of appropriate concentration of nanoparticles into the surfactant solution. The nanoparticles improve foam stability by their adsorption and aggregation at the foam lamellae to increase film thickness and dilational viscoelasticity. This prevents liquid drainage and film thinning and improves foam stability both at the bulk and bubble scale.     

明胶溶液浓度对其发泡性能的影响

明胶具有发泡性能,该性能在食品、医药、洗涤、化妆品等行业具有很好的潜在应用价值。明胶浓度对其体系的发泡性能和发泡稳定性产生的影响,将直接影响到其产品的质量和性能。因此,本文采用搅拌法,在60℃水浴条件下,采用100mL明胶溶液,研究了明胶溶液浓度对其发泡性能和泡沫稳定性的影响。实验结果表明:在相同的温度和转速条件下,随着明胶溶液浓度的增加,其发泡量逐渐减少,而泡沫稳定性则越来越好。A型明胶溶液浓度为1%时发泡量最大,最大值为71mL;在浓度为9%时泡沫半衰期为86min,表现出较好的泡沫稳定性。B型明胶溶液浓度为1%时发泡量最大值为52mL;溶液浓度为9%时泡沫半衰期为3min。A型明胶和B型明胶两者相比,A型明胶具有更好的发泡性能及泡沫稳定性。     

Foaming properties of surfactin,a lipopeptide biosurfactant fromBacillus subtilis

Foaming properties of surfactin were investigated and compared to those of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Foams were formed by a bubbling technique. Evolution of the foam volume and the liquid in the foam was monitored with optical and conductimetric methods to characterize foam formation and stability. Excellent foaming properties of surfactin were shown by its higher ability to form and stabilize the foam at a concentration as low as 0.05 mg/mL, in comparison with SDS and BSA. Surfactin produced a foam with intermediate maximum density and stabilized the liquid in foam, as well as BSA.     

Diesel Oil Removal by Froth Flotation Under Low Interfacial Tension Conditions II: Continuous Mode of Operation

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between interfacial tension (IFT) and foam characteristics and the efficiency of diesel oil removal from water in a continuous froth flotation column. The effects of operational parameters, including surfactant concentration, salinity, oil-to-water ratio, foam height, air flow rate, and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the oil removal were investigated in the continuous mode of a froth flotation operation and compared to batch operation results. Unlike the batch system, for the continuous system used in the present study, having only branched alcohol propoxylate sulfate sodium salt surfactant (C_14–15(PO)₅SO₄Na) and NaCl present in the solution yielded such poor foam characteristics that a stable froth which overflowed the flotation column could not be produced, so the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a froth promoter was used to improve the foam stability. Unlike the batch froth flotation system with only C_14–15(PO)₅SO₄Na, the continuous froth flotation with the mixture of C_14–15(PO)₅SO₄Na and SDS, it was not possible to find a SDS and a NaCl concentration at which both ultralow IFT and good foaming were both achieved. Foam formation, stability, and production rate were found to be crucial parameters to the froth flotation efficiency. The continuous froth flotation system offers a high diesel oil removal of 96% in the single stage unit. Demonstration of efficient operation in the continuous mode in this work is important to the practical application of froth flotation in large scale processing.     

基于大豆蛋白的高回弹聚氨酯泡沫塑料的制备及性能研究

以大豆分离蛋白、高活性聚醚、聚合物多元醇、交联剂、发泡剂、泡沫稳定剂和混合异氰酸酯为原料,自由发泡、常温熟化制备了大豆蛋白基高回弹聚氨酯软泡。研究了大豆蛋白质(SPI)对聚氨酯泡沫物理性能、力学性能、孔结构和热性能的影响。结果表明:SPI添加量对泡沫物理和力学性能影响最大。随着SPI含量增加,泡沫的密度、尺寸稳定性提高,压陷硬度和舒适因子提高增大;回弹率下降,断裂伸长率减小,而拉伸强度先增大后减小。SPI能够提高聚氨酯的热稳定性,但最好低于150℃使用。     

Study of Foaming Properties and Effect of the Isomeric Distribution of Some Anionic Surfactants

Using different reaction conditions of photosulfochlorination of n-dodecane, two samples of anionic surfactants of sulfonate type are obtained. Their micellar behavior has been already reported and the relationship between their isomeric distribution and their chemical structures and micellar behaviors have been more thoroughly explored. In this investigation, we screened the foaming properties (foaming power and foam stability) by a standardized method very similar to the Ross–Miles foaming tests to identify which surfactants are suitable for applications requiring high foaming, or, alternatively, low foaming. The results obtained for the synthesized surfactants are compared to those obtained for an industrial sample of secondary alkanesulfonate (Hostapur 60) and to those of a commercial sample of sodium dodecylsulfate used as reference for anionic surfactants. The foam formation and foam stability of aqueous solutions of the two samples of dodecanesulfonate are compared as a function of their isomeric distribution. These compounds show good foaming power characterized in most cases by metastable or dry foams. The highest foaming power is obtained for the sample rich in primary isomers which also produces foam with a relatively high stability. For the sample rich in secondary isomers we observe under fixed conditions a comparable initial foam height but the foam stability turns out to be low. This property is interesting for applications requiring low foaming properties such as dishwashing liquid for machines. The best results are observed near and above the critical micellar concentrations and at 25 °C for both the samples.

Effects of foaming and antifoaming agents on the performance of a wet flue gas desulfurization pilot plant

Foaming is a common phenomenon in industrial processes, including wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) plants. A systemic investigation of the influence of two foaming agents, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and egg white albumin (protein), and two commercial antifoams on a wet FGD pilot plant operation has been carried out. Foaming caused by 0.03 g SDS/(L slurry) reduced the desulfurization degree from 84 to 74% and the solids and limestone concentrations of the slurry from 58 to 48 g/(L slurry) and from 1.4 to 1.0 g/(L slurry), respectively. These effects were attributed to the foaming transferring small particles to the foam layer present on top of the slurry in the holding tank. The addition of 0.03 g antifoams/(L slurry) to SDS foam eliminated the foam, but the desulfurization degree remained low. Potential mechanisms for the observed behavior are analyzed. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 2382–2388, 2014