ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Influence of pH and cationic surfactant on stability and interfacial properties of algerian bitumen emulsion

Abdelkader Benderrag, Mortada Daaou, Boumedienne Bounaceur, and Boumedienne Haddou

Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials: Catalysis and Environment, University of Sciences and Technology of Oran Mohamed Boudiaf USTO-MB, PO BOX 1505, El M’naouer, Oran 31000, Algeria

E-mail: daaou mortada@yahoo.fr

Abstract: The influence of water pH and cationic surfactant content on the interfacial properties and stability of an Algerian bitumen aqueous emulsion were investigated. While the stability was quantified by both the test-bottle method and size distribution measurements, the interfacial properties of the water–bitumen interface were assessed using interfacial tension measurements. Optical microscopy was also used to visualise the dispersed water droplets in the oil phase. The results showed that addition of the cationic surfactant at a concentration of 25 mmol L⁻¹ in acidic water (pH 2) improves the bitumen emulsion stability and effectively decreases the interfacial tension.

Keywords: Algerian bitumen – cationic surfactant – interfacial properties – emulsion stability

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1515/chempap-2016-0061

Chemical Papers 70 (9) 1196–1203 (2016)