Drop Size Distribution of O/W Emulsions by Drop Immobilization with Agarose

ABSTRACT

A method for the determination of the drop size distribution of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions is presented. Water-based coolant emulsions used in rolling mill operations were studied. The emulsions were gelled in agarose so that the oil droplets were immobilized and samples of these gels were measured by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and image processing. The influence of the addition of CaCl₂ as an emulsion destabilizer on the size distributions was also studied. The experimental data obtained were compared to those obtained using photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

One of the authors (G. Ríos) was the recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from FICYT (Fundación para el Fomento en Asturias de la Investigación Científica Aplicada y la Tecnología). We also thank the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community) for their support. Finally, we are very grateful to Mr. A´ngel Martínez-Nistal, of the Image Processing Service, and to Prof. J. L. Bueno, of the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, of the University of Oviedo for their assistance.