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

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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.

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Correspondence to Mortada Daaou.

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Benderrag, A., Daaou, M., Bounaceur, B. et al. Influence of pH and cationic surfactant on stability and interfacial properties of Algerian bitumen emulsion. Chem. Pap. 70, 1196–1203 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1515/chempap-2016-0061

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