(102d) Towards the Modelling of the Stabilization Process In Pickering Emulsions

The replacement of traditional molecular surfactants by nano- or micrometer-sized solid particles in emulsification processes offers many advantages and creates new opportunities in the process industry. The emulsion stabilization mechanism with solid particles can be visualized in three steps: 1) the particle first approaches and reaches the fluid/fluid interface; 2) the particle adsorbs and gets trapped at the interface; 3) the adsorbed particles form a network that stabilizes the emulsion. At the moment, the state of knowledge does not allow for process design at the industrial scale mainly because of the lack of information about the overall stabilization mechanism. Being interested in emulsification process design, we are developing a methodology to predict the solid stabilized emulsions properties from the process conditions. The present work aims at developing a model describing the droplets stabilization on the basis of particle adsorption forces measurements using Atomic Force Microscopy. This approach allows us to identify the main parameters affecting the particles adsorption mechanism and therefore the stabilization rate, a condition to predict the droplets distribution size during the emulsification process.