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Achieving optimal micro-explosions in stable emulsions by adding water-soluble polymers
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  • Cao Liu,
  • Tianchun Xiao,
  • Lingrui Cui,
  • Lian CEN,
  • Jinshan XU,
  • Peixun Li,
  • Fahai Cao
Cao Liu
East China University of Science and Technology

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Tianchun Xiao
University of Oxford
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Lingrui Cui
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Lian CEN
East China University of Science and Technology
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Jinshan XU
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Peixun Li
ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source
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Fahai Cao
East China University of Science and Technology
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Abstract

The emulsified feedstock technique is to improve the performance of products by using the micro-explosion phenomenon of emulsion. However, an obstacle to some applications of this technology is the contradiction between emulsion stability and micro-explosion intensity. For the first time, adding water-soluble polymers was proposed to solve this problem. Two polymers of xanthan gum (XG) and nonionic polyacrylamide (NPAM) were investigated and the results show that micro-explosions have five forms. As one of these five forms, the intensity of optimal micro-explosion is three orders of magnitude higher than other forms, and adding 0.5% XG increases the probability of optimal micro-explosion from 0% to 60% due to the low surface activity, strong thickening and pseudoplasticity of XG solutions. By contrast, NPAM does not promote micro-explosion because of its strong surface activity. Finally, a new mechanism for micro-explosions related to surface tension, interfacial tension and viscosity is proposed.