The W/O emulsion was formed by mixing hydrophobic nonion surfactants of span 80 and tween 60 with kerosine, and by adding sodium silicate aqueous solution. Precipitating the W/O emulsion by sodium bicarbonate resulted in spherical silica particles. Shape and size distribution of silica particles were observed. The particles were spherical and they have narrow size distribution. Particle sizes were 9.29, 7.39 and 5.73 μm at homogenizer speed of 2500, 3000, and 3500 rpm, respectively. The particle size was decreased by increasing agitation speed due to the formation of emulsion droplet. At fixed agitation speed, absorbed paraffin oil weight were measured and the SiO2/Na2O mole ratio effects on particle size were investigated. Particle size was decreased by increasing the mole ratio of SiO2/Na2O.
In the separation of toluene/n-heptane mixture by the emulsion type liquid membrane in a batch system, the effect of surfactants on the separation factor and membrane stability were studied over the surfactant concentration ranging from 0.1 to 1.5 wt% at the contact time of 5 and 10 minutes and the settling time 5 and 10 minutes. The surfactants used were triethanol amine lauryl sulfate. The separation factor reached its maximum value at the surfactant concentration of 0.5 wt%. It was found that the percentage of membrane breakup reached its minium values and the separation factor showed its maximum value at the surfactant concentration of 0.5 wt%, which confirmed that efficient separation could be effect when emulsion liquid membrane were stable because of low membrane break up.
In the separation of toluene/n-heptane mixture by the emulsion type liquid membrane in an batch system, the effect of surfactant on the separation factor and membrane stability was studied over the surfactant concentration ranging form 0.1 to 1.5wt% at the contact time of 5 and 10 minutes. and the settling time of 5 and 10 minutes. The surfactant used was sodium lauryl sulfate. The separation factor reached its maximum value at the surfactant concentration of 0.5wt% for surfantant. It was found that the percentage of membrane breakup reached its minimum values and the separation factor showed its maximum value at the surfactant concentration of 0.5wt%. which confirmed that efficient separation could be effect when emulsion liquid membrane was stable because of low membrane breakup.