Enhanced Coalescence of Emulsion in an Electric Field

Abstract

The action of an electric field on an emulsion produced effects like drop disintegration and promoted coalescence. High and low field intensities modify droplet displacements due to electrostatic forces. In this investigation a water-in-oil type of emulsion was prepared using distilled water and soap as the surfactant. After mixing, these emulsions were separated under an applied direct current high voltage electric field at a fixed 2.09 kV applied output voltage across the system. The time of coalescence, upper plate position, mixing time, and dispersion/coalesced phase volume interface are the parameters considered to influence the coalescence parameter and dispersion band hold-up. The results show that the prepared emulsion can be separated back into its bulk phases by using electric fields. The degree of separation depends on the applied voltage.