Elka S. Basheva

Unique Properties of Bubbles and Foam Films Stabilized by HFBII Hydrophobin

The HFBII hydrophobin is an amphiphilic protein that can irreversibly adsorb at the air/water interface. The formed protein monolayers can reach a state of two-dimensional elastic solid that exhibits a high mechanical strength as compared to adsorption layers of typical amphiphilic proteins. Bubbles formed in HFBII solutions preserve the nonspherical shape they had at the moment of solidification of their surfaces. The stirring of HFBII solutions leads to the formation of many bubbles of micrometer size. Measuring the electrophoretic mobility of such bubbles, the ζ-potential was determined. Upon compression, the HFBII monolayers form periodic wrinkles of wavelength 11.5 μm, which corresponds to bending elasticity k(c) = 1.1 × 10(-19) J. The wrinkled hydrophobin monolayers are close to a tension-free state, which prevents the Ostwald ripening and provides bubble longevity in HFBII stabilized foams. Films formed between two bubbles are studied by experiments in a capillary cell. In the absence of added electrolyte, the films are electrostatically stabilized. The appearance of protein aggregates is enhanced with the increase of the HFBII and electrolyte concentrations and at pH close to the isoelectric point. When the aggregate concentration is not too high (to block the film thinning), the films reach a state with 12 nm uniform thickness, which corresponds to two surface monolayers plus HFBII tetramers sandwiched between them. In water, the HFBII molecules can stick to each other not only by their hydrophobic moieties but also by their hydrophilic parts. The latter leads to the attachment of HFBII aggregates such as dimers, tetramers, and bigger ones to the interfacial adsorption monolayers, which provides additional stabilization of the liquid films.

Determination of the aggregation number and charge of ionic surfactant micelles from the stepwise thinning of foam films

The stepwise thinning (stratification) of liquid films, which contain micelles of an ionic surfactant, depends on the micelle aggregation number, N(agg), and charge, Z. Vice versa, from the height of the step and the final film thickness one can determine N(agg), Z, and the degree of micelle ionization. The determination of N(agg) is based on the experimental fact that the step height is equal to the inverse cubic root of the micelle concentration. In addition, Z is determined from the final thickness of the film, which depends on the concentration of counterions dissociated from the micelles in the bulk. The method is applied to micellar solutions of six surfactants, both anionic and cationic: sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), sodium laurylethersulfates with 1 and 3 ethylene oxide groups (SLES-1EO and SLES-3EO), and potassium myristate. The method has the following advantages: (i) N(agg) and Z are determined simultaneously, from the same set of experimental data; (ii) N(agg) and Z are determined for each given surfactant concentration (i.e. their concentration dependence is obtained), and (iii) N(agg) and Z can be determined even for turbid solutions, like those of carboxylates, where the micelles coexist with acid-soap crystallites, so that the application of other methods is difficult. The results indicate that the micelles of greater aggregation number have a lower degree of ionization, which can be explained with the effect of counterion binding. The proposed method is applicable to the concentration range, in which the films stratify and the micelles are spherical. This is satisfied for numerous systems representing scientific and practical interest.

Hofmeister effect on micellization, thin films and emulsion stability

The Hofmeister effect on the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the thin liquid film electrostatic disjoining pressure (Π(el)) and the critical coalescence pressure of emulsion drops (P(CR)) were investigated. For CMC literature data were used, but Π and P(CR) were measured by us. The essence of the theoretical approach was to modify existing theories of CMC and Π(el) by using generalized Gouy equation and dimensionless surface potential (Φ(S)), involving the counterion specific adsorption energy (u(0)). The computational procedure of u(0) does not involve any adjustable parameters. Linear dependences of ln(CMC), Φ(S) and P(CR) on u(0) were found in conformity with Hofmeister series. The experimental slopes of ln(CMC) and Φ(S) vs. -u(0)/k(B)T were negative and very close to the theoretical ones. A hypothesis was put forward for explanation of the positive slopes of P(CR) on u(0). The obtained results suggest that the counterion specific adsorption energy u(0) encompasses all major factors, involved in the Hofmeister effect for the studied phenomena. If this is confirmed by analysis of more phenomena, revealing Hofmeister effect, one could claim that u(0) is the factor controlling the Hofmeister effect and a powerful tool for its study.

The colloid structural forces as a tool for particle characterization and control of dispersion stability

Knowing the size and interactions of colloid particles, one can predict the stepwise thickness transitions and the contact angles of particle-containing liquid films. Here, we consider the inverse problem, viz. how to determine the particle properties by measurements with liquid films. We carried out experiments with films formed from aqueous solutions of two nonionic surfactants, Brij 35 and Tween 20, which contain spherical micelles of diameters in the range 7-9 nm. From the measured contact angles, we determined the micelle aggregation number and volume fraction. In addition, from the measured disjoining-pressure isotherms we determined the micelle diameter. In other words, the liquid-film measurements give information about the micelles, which is analogous to that obtainable by dynamic and static light scattering. Furthermore, we investigate the predictions of different quantitative criteria for stability-instability transitions, having in mind that the oscillatory forces exhibit both maxima, which play the role of barriers to coagulation, and minima that could produce flocculation or coalescence in colloidal dispersions (emulsions, foams, suspensions). The interplay of the oscillatory force with the van der Waals surface force is taken into account. Two different kinetic criteria are considered, which give similar and physically reasonable results about the stability-instability transitions. Diagrams are constructed, which show the values of the micelle volume fraction, for which the oscillatory barriers can prevent the particles from coming into close contact, or for which a strong flocculation in the depletion minimum or a weak flocculation in the first oscillatory minimum could be observed.

The metastable states of foam films containing electrically charged micelles or particles: Experiment and quantitative interpretation

The stepwise thinning (stratification) of liquid films containing electrically charged colloidal particles (in our case - surfactant micelles) is investigated. Most of the results are applicable also to films from nanoparticle suspensions. The aim is to achieve agreement between theory and experiment, and to better understand the physical reasons for this phenomenon. To test different theoretical approaches, we obtained experimental data for free foam films from micellar solutions of three ionic surfactants. The theoretical problem is reduced to the interpretation of the experimental concentration dependencies of the step height and of the final film thickness. The surface charges of films and micelles are calculated by means of the charge-regulation model, with a counterion-binding (Stern) constant determined from the fit of surface tension isotherms. The applicability of three models was tested: the Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) model; the jellium-approximation (JA), and the cell model (CM). The best agreement theory/experiment was obtained with the JA model without using any adjustable parameters. Two theoretical approaches are considered. First, in the energy approach the step height is identified with the effective diameter of the charged micelles, which represents an integral of the electrostatic-repulsion energy calculated by the JA model. Second, in the osmotic approach the step height is equal to the inverse cubic root of micelle number density in the bulk of solution. Both approaches are in good agreement with the experiment if the suspension of charged particles (micelles) represents a jellium, i.e. if the particle concentration is uniform despite the field of the electric double layers. The results lead to a convenient method for determining the aggregation number of ionic surfactant micelles from the experimental heights of the steps.

Modified Capillary Cell for Foam Film Studies Allowing Exchange of the Film-Forming Liquid

Many of the macroscopic properties of foams and emulsions are controlled by the mesoscopic properties of the thin films separating the bubbles or droplets. The properties of these films depend on contributions (1) from the adsorbed surface layers and (2) from the liquid that separates these adsorbed layers. To separate in the experimental studies the effects of these two contributions, we developed a new modified version of the capillary cell for foam film studies (originally developed by Scheludko and Exerowa (Scheludko, A.; Exerowa, D. Kolloid Z. 1959, 165, 148-151), which allows exchange of the film-forming liquid between the air-water surfaces. This modified cell allows one to distinguish between the role of the adsorbed species (e.g., proteins, particles, or long-chain synthetic polymers) and the species present in the film interior (e.g., particles, electrolytes, or surfactants). The film properties that can be studied in this way include film stability, rate of film thinning, and surface forces stabilizing the film. These properties are of significant interest in understanding and controlling the stability of dispersed systems. The experimental procedure and the capabilities of the modified cell are demonstrated in several examples.

Multi-Stepwise Drainage and Viscosity of Macroscopic Films Formed from Latex Suspensions

Vertical, macroscopic thinning films formed from micellar solutions or latex suspensions exhibit a series of parallel, colored horizontal stripes of different thickness and, with time, of gradually increasing width. Such a step-wise profile can be explained by the existence of an ordered structure of spherical colloidal particles inside the film. It was established experimentally that, at a given temperature, the boundaries between the stripes are moving downwards with constant velocities. In addition, it was observed that colored circular spots, of lesser thickness than the surrounding film, are moving upwards in the lower stripes and, eventually, fuse with the corresponding colored stripe. The motion of the circular spots in a vertical stratifying film was used to determine the viscous properties of the ordered structure inside the film. It was found that the effective dynamic viscosity of the colloid crystal-like structure inside the film was about 100 times larger than the viscosity of the pure solvent.

Effect of Ionic Correlations on the Surface Forces in Thin Liquid Films: Influence of Multivalent Coions and Extended Theory

Experimental data for the disjoining pressure of foam films stabilized by anionic surfactant in the presence of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 2:2 electrolytes: NaCl, Na2SO4, Na3Citrate, and MgSO4 are reported. The disjoining pressure predicted by the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory coincides with the experimental data in the case of a 1:1 electrolyte, but it is considerably greater than the measured pressure in all other cases. The theory is extended to account for the effects of ionic correlations and finite ionic radii. Original analytical expressions are derived for the local activity coefficient, electrostatic disjoining pressure, and asymptotic screening parameter. With the same parameter of counterion binding as for a 1:1 electrolyte, the curves predicted by the extended theory are in perfect agreement with the experimental data for 1:2 and 1:3 electrolytes. In comparison with the DLVO theory, the effect of ionic correlations leads to more effective screening of electrostatic interactions, and lower electric potential and counterion concentrations in the film’s midplane, resulting in lower disjoining pressure, as experimentally observed. The developed theory is applicable to both multivalent coions and multivalent counterions. Its application could remove some discrepancies between theory and experiment observed in studies with liquid films from electrolyte solutions.

Stability of oil-in water emulsions containing protein

This work is focused on the mechanisms for stabilisation of oil-in-water emulsion drops pressed against a homophase. With increasing concentration of a globular protein (βlactoglobulin) in the aqueous continuous phase the drop stability is improved considerably. Repulsive interactions (other than electrostatics) prevent rupture of the intervening o/w/o films at elevated concentrations. Then, the critical disjoining pressure for coalescence is higher than the equilibrium disjoining pressure which is established when the drop arrives at the surface. The latter fact correlates with very long lifetimes of drops. Conversely, at low concentrations (below ∼10 wt%) the films rupture soon after the process of thinning is completed. Faster formation of saturated adsorption layers is probably responsible for the more efficient stabilisation with rising concentration. The adsorption kinetics in the time scales of seconds and minutes is rather sensitive to the protein content. Interfacial rheological measurements give evidence that with increasing concentration of protein the layer is mechanically reinforced to some extent.

Coalescence Dynamics of Mobile and Immobile Fluid Interfaces

Coalescence dynamics between deformable bubbles and droplets can be dramatically affected by the mobility of the interfaces with fully tangentially mobile bubble-liquid or droplet-liquid interfaces expected to accelerate the coalescence by orders of magnitude. However, there is a lack of systematic experimental investigations that quantify this effect. By using high speed camera imaging we examine the free rise and coalescence of small air-bubbles (100 to 1300 μm in diameter) with a liquid interface. A perfluorocarbon liquid, PP11, is used as a model liquid to investigate coalescence dynamics between fully mobile and immobile deformable interfaces. The mobility of the bubble surface was determined by measuring the terminal rise velocity of small bubbles rising at Reynolds numbers, Re, less than 0.1 and the mobility of free PP11 surface by measuring the deceleration kinetics of the small bubble toward the interface. Induction or film drainage times of a bubble at the mobile PP11-air surface were found to be more than 2 orders of magnitude shorter compared to the case of bubble and an immobile PP11-water interface. A theoretical model is used to illustrate the effect of hydrodynamics and interfacial mobility on the induction time or film drainage time. The results of this study are expected to stimulate the development of a comprehensive theoretical model for coalescence dynamics between two fully or partially mobile fluid interfaces.