Method for forming reversible colloidal gas or liquid aphrons and compositions produced
AssigneeBoard of Trustees operating Michigan State University
InventorsRobert Mark Worden, Alec B. Scranton
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Abstract
A method for forming gas or liquid aphrons with reversible surfactants or emulsifiers is described. Polymers which change their emulsifying properties upon change of pH, temperature or other condition are used to form the aphrons. The aphrons are useful for chemical reactions and separations, mass transfer processes, and for biological processes.
Claims21
A method for reversibly forming and then coalescing gas containing aphrons in an aqueous liquid which comprises:
- (a) providing a chemical selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, surfactant and mixtures thereof in the aqueous liquid wherein the chemical is reversibly rendered hydrophobic, amphipathic or hydrophilic as a function of a change of condition of the aqueous liquid which changes a physical structure of the chemical;
- (b) forming gas containing aphrons in the aqueous solution of the chemical at a first condition where the chemical stabilizes the gas containing aphrons in the aqueous solution;
- and
- (c) changing the conditions in the aqueous solution so that the gas containing aphrons are coalesced.
A method for separating a chemical which comprises:
- (a) forming gas containing aphrons in an aqueous liquid wherein a chemical used for forming the aphrons selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a surfactant and mixtures thereof is reversibly hydrophobic, amphipathic or hydrophilic as a function of a change of condition of the aqueous liquid which changes a physical structure of the chemical;
- (b) contacting the gas containing aphrons with a separate liquid so that there is a transfer of a chemical between the liquids;
- (c) changing the conditions of the aqueous liquid to coalesce the gas containing aphrons;
- and
- (d) separating the chemical from the liquid containing the chemical.
A method of transferring a gas which comprises:
- (a) forming gas containing aphrons in an aqueous liquid, wherein a chemical used for forming the gas containing aphrons is selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a surfactant and mixtures thereof which is reversibly hydrophobic, amphipathic, or hydrophilic as a function of a change of condition of the aqueous liquid which changes a physical structure of the chemical;
- (b) contacting the gas containing aphrons with a separate liquid so that there is a transfer of a gas between the aphron and the liquid;
- and
- (c) changing the condition of the aqueous liquid to coalesce the gas containing aphrons.
A composition which comprises:
- (a) a gas;
- and
- (b) aphrons containing the gas, wherein the gas containing aphrons are formed in an aqueous liquid containing a chemical selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a surfactant and mixtures thereof which is reversibly hydrophobic, amphipathic or hydrophilic as a function of a change of condition of the aqueous liquid which changes a physical structure of the chemical and wherein the gas containing aphrons are capable of being coalesced by the change of condition of the aqueous liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.