9 research outputs found
Self-Induced Surfactant Transport along Discontinuous Liquid–Liquid Interfaces
While the Marangoni-stress-driven
spreading of surfactants along
continuous fluid interfaces is a well-studied problem, we demonstrate
experimentally that swift and efficient surfactant transport can also
occur along discontinuous interfaces. We used chemical surface patterning
to create arrays of discrete drops and liquid bridges immersed inside
a second immiscible liquid. Surface-active compounds introduced at
one end of the linear array are transported along the array via surfactant-induced
interfacial convection at a rate by far exceeding diffusion. We believe
this mechanism to be relevant to the application of surfactants in
enhanced oil recovery, where oil–water interfaces are likely
to be discontinuous. Marangoni flows can provide access to dead-end
pores and low-permeability regions that are otherwise bypassed by
conventional pressure-driven waterfloods
Self-Induced Surfactant Transport along Discontinuous Liquid–Liquid Interfaces
While the Marangoni-stress-driven
spreading of surfactants along
continuous fluid interfaces is a well-studied problem, we demonstrate
experimentally that swift and efficient surfactant transport can also
occur along discontinuous interfaces. We used chemical surface patterning
to create arrays of discrete drops and liquid bridges immersed inside
a second immiscible liquid. Surface-active compounds introduced at
one end of the linear array are transported along the array via surfactant-induced
interfacial convection at a rate by far exceeding diffusion. We believe
this mechanism to be relevant to the application of surfactants in
enhanced oil recovery, where oil–water interfaces are likely
to be discontinuous. Marangoni flows can provide access to dead-end
pores and low-permeability regions that are otherwise bypassed by
conventional pressure-driven waterfloods