Highly clear and transparent nanoemulsion preparation under surfactant-free conditions using tandem acoustic emulsification

Abstract

A new technique for the preparation of a highly clear and transparent emulsified aqueous solution containing immiscible monomer droplets with diameters of a few tens of nanometres under surfactant-free conditions using tandem acoustic emulsification is described. Highly conductive transparent polymer films were successfully prepared from such an emulsified solution.

Ultrasonically treated liquid interfaces for progress in cleaning and separation processes

“…transesterification for the production of biodiesel, hydrolysis for degradation of compounds 85 including polymers, 86 acid or base-catalyzed methanolysis, 87 oxidative desulfurization, 88 demulsification 89 and nanoemulsification, 90 amongst others). 91 To note, the ultrasonic treatment only at high frequency (MHz) does not emulsify the organic/aqueous liquid phases, as the small amplitude is insufficient for phase separation. As we have learned, ultrasonic treatment of the latter at low frequency forms an emulsion between immiscible fluids by disruption of the phase boundary according to the model described in Figure 3.…”

Application of Ultrasound to Organic Synthesis

“…Then, transparent poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was prepared by electrolytic polymerization from size-controlled oil droplets of ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) Eqn (7.26) [26]. The sizes of oil droplets or water droplets in emulsion were found to be controllable through adjustments of the ultrasound frequency.…”

Sonochemical Engineering Processes

“…For example, as shown in Figure 6.5, ultrasound at 40, 200, and 1000 kHz was irradiated into an oleic acidewater system in sequence every few minutes, producing uniform droplets with a diameter of a few 100 nm. Nanodroplets of this material were electropolymerized, and a polymer film with transparent and high conductivity characteristics was produced [10]. An example of a nanoemulsion application is the nanoemulsification of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomer.…”

“…10 Polystyrene yield for styrene monomer polymerization as a function of time using ultrasound at 500 kHz.…”