Development of a Micro Reactor for Continuous Flow Demulsification of an Emulsion by an Alternating Electric Field

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24560943
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Reaction engineering/Process system
• Research Institution: Osaka Prefecture University
• Principal Investigator: Muto Akinori 大阪府立大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (00174243)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): HAYATO TOKUMOTO 大阪府立大学, 工学研究科, 講師 (70405348)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 交流電場 / 周波数 / 電解質 / 誘電率 / 界面活性剤 / W/O型エマルジョン / 溶媒

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Emulsions are often generated as unwanted byproducts from the treatment of oil and aqueous solutions. In this study, we investigated the demulsification oby the application of an alternating current (AC) electric field. A fluorocarbon tube of 1 mm diameter was used for the emulsion flow. The emulsion was smoothly separated into clear water and the organic solvent.Ethylbenzene, toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, cyclohexane, and n-hexane were employed as organic solvents. Sorbitan monooleate (Span80) was used as a surfactant. The following conclusions could be made from the study: (1) the square waveform alternating electric field was more effective than the sine waveform; (2) in all organic solvents, the demulsification rate varied significantly with changes in the oil phase volume fraction; (3) a greater relative permittivity promoted demulsification; (4) demulsification rates varied with the ionic strength of the aqueous phase.

Free Research Field

化学工学