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Interfacial electrical properties of electrogenerated bubbles

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Abstract

Electrophoresis measurements on bubbles of electrogenerated hydrogen, oxygen and chlorine rising in a lateral electric field, are reported. In surfactant-free solutions, all bubbles displayed a point of zero charge of pH 2–3, i.e. they were negatively charged at pH > 3 and positively charged at pH < 2. The bubble diameter and electric field strength dependence of the electrophoretic mobilities, coupled with bubble rise rate measurements, indicated that the gas—aqueous solution interface was mobile, such that classical electrophoresis theory for solid particles could not be applied. Adsorption of anionic or cationic surfactants, in addition to modifying the apparent bubble charge, also tended to rigidify the bubble surface, so that at monolayer coverage the bubbles behaved as solid particles.

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Abbreviations

c :

electrolyte concentration (mol m−3)

d :

bubble diameter (m)

E :

electric field (V m−1)

g :

gravitational constant (9.807 m s−2)

n 0 :

ionic number density (m−3)

q :

charge density [(μ, m) Cm−2]

Q :

charge [(μ, m) C]

r :

bubble radius (m)

R :

universal gas constant (8.314 J mol−1 K−1)

T :

absolute temperature (K)

u :

electrophoretic mobility (m2 s−1 V−1)

ν :

electrophoretic velocity (m s−1)

ε :

electrolyte permittivity (F m−1)

η :

electrolyte viscosity (N m−2 s)

Γ:

surface concentration (mol m−2)

k :

Debye-Huckel parameter (m−1)

ϱ :

electrolyte density (kg m−3)

ϱ′ :

gas density (kg m−3)

ζ :

zeta potential (V)

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Author notes

  1. N. P. Brandon

    Present address: BP Research Centre, Chertsey Road, TW16 7LN, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, Imperial College, SW7 2BP, London, UK

    N. P. Brandon & G. H. Kelsall

  2. Port Sunlight Laboratory, Unilever Research, L63 3JW, Wirral, Merseyside, UK

    S. Levine & A. L. Smith

Authors
  1. N. P. Brandon
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  2. G. H. Kelsall
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  3. S. Levine
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  4. A. L. Smith
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Brandon, N.P., Kelsall, G.H., Levine, S. et al. Interfacial electrical properties of electrogenerated bubbles. J Appl Electrochem 15, 485–493 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01059289

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01059289

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