Revealing Bilgewater Emulsion Formation and Breaking by In Situ Multiplexed Chemical Imaging and Microfluidics
Abstract
Bilgewater, an oil and grease mixture with water, may affect many aquatic species. Thus development of methods and techniques to treat (i.e., increase OWS availability, reduce cost) or to mitigate the formation and undesired consequences of shipboard emulsions are urgently needed. This research aims to investigate the fundamental physicochemical processes in the formation, stabilization, and breaking of shipboard relevant emulsions. Understanding shipboard emulsions at evolving interfaces is a key scientific challenge. The underpinning hypothesis is that surface chemical changes at the l-l interface are critical for mass and charge transfer leading to emulsion formation, stabilization, and worsening. Using unique in situ chemical imaging capabilities developed at PNNL, the project team answers the following questions to validate the following questions: 1) How do ionic, nonionic, and solid emulsifiers affect emulsion stabilization in ship bilgewater conditions? and 2) How does microbial activity affect emulsion formation, stabilization, and breaking? A unique vacuum compatible microreactor, System for Analysis at the Liquid Vacuum Interface (SALVI), has been used to achieve multiscale imaging and obtain a more fundamental understanding of these physiochemical multiphase processes
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1135501
Entities
People
- Xiao-Ying Yu
Organizations
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory