SURFACTANT-OIL-WATER SYSTEMS NEAR THE AFFINITY INVERSION PART I: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EQUILIBRIUM PHASE BEHAVIOR AND EMULSION TYPE AND STABILITY

ABSTRACT A systematic relationship was found between the equilibrium phase behavior of a surfactant-alcohol-oil-water system and the type and stability of the corresponding emulsion. Formulations are scanned through the three phase transition by changing (one at the time) brine salinity, oil EACN, surfactant nature and alcohol concentration. Whatever the scanning variable, it is found that the electrical conductivity exhibits a large change near the optimum formulation, indicating the inversion of the continuous phase of the dispersed system. On the other hand, the emulsion stability is found to undergo a deep minimum for formulations corresponding to the three phase behavior at equilibrium. The large but relatively smooth variation of the conductivity gives some hints on the possible continuity structure of the MOW triphasic emulsions.

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