Influence of Hydrophobicity on Agglomeration of Dolomite in Cationic-Anionic Surfactant System

Abstract

In this study the modified procedure of the oil agglomeration process was carried out, where the emulsion of dodecylammonium hydrochloride (DDAHCl) solution and kerosene was added to the mineral suspension. The aim of this work was to research the oil agglomeration of dolomite mineral by the contact angle, zeta potential and surface free energy measurements. The relationship between the investigated parameters and the oil agglomeration as well as shear flocculation was revealed. The mechanism of oil agglomeration of hydrophilic particles in cationic-anionic surfactant system has been proposed. It was concluded that oil droplets interact rather with aggregates of particles modified by anionic surfactant than the single mineral particles as was explained for naturally hydrophobic particles.

Keywords:

• contact angle
• oil agglomeration
• shear flocculation
• surface free energy

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The work was financed by a statutory activity subsidy from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education for the Faculty of Chemistry of the Wroclaw University of Technology.