On the dispersion dynamics of liquid–liquid surfactant-laden flows in a SMX static mixer

This study aims to elucidate, for the first time, the intricate fundamental physics governing the dispersion dynamics of a surfactant-laden two-phase liquid–liquid system in the well-known SMX static mixer. Following the analysis carried out in the preceding publication to this work (Valdes et al.,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2023-11, Vol.475, p.146058, Article 146058
Main Authors: Valdes, Juan Pablo, Kahouadji, Lyes, Liang, Fuyue, Shin, Seungwon, Chergui, Jalel, Juric, Damir, Matar, Omar K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemical engineering
Chemical Sciences
DNS
Fluid mechanics
Mechanics
Mixing
Physics
Static mixer
Surfactant-laden
Two-phase flow
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Summary:This study aims to elucidate, for the first time, the intricate fundamental physics governing the dispersion dynamics of a surfactant-laden two-phase liquid–liquid system in the well-known SMX static mixer. Following the analysis carried out in the preceding publication to this work (Valdes et al., 2023), a comparative assessment of the most relevant and recurrent deformation and breakup mechanisms is conducted for a 3-drop scenario and then extrapolated to a more industrially-relevant multi-drop set-up. A parametric study on relevant surfactant physico-chemical parameters (i.e., elasticity, sorption kinetics) is undertaken, isolating each property by considering insoluble and soluble surfactants. In addition, the role of Marangoni stresses on the deformation and breakage dynamics is explored. High fidelity, three-dimensional direct numerical simulations coupled with a state-of-the-art hybrid interface capturing algorithm are carried out, providing a wealth of information previously inaccessible via volume-averaged or experimental approaches. •Marangoni depends on local hydrodynamics, negligible under governing shear/inertia.•Marangoni stresses restrict interfacial spread via retraction and rigidification.•Marangoni stresses can augment small drop formation or restrict it altogether.•Strong surfactant activity yields large distortion, smaller drops and large variance.•Solubility significantly alters DSD features by shifting the dominant breakup modes.
ISSN:1385-8947
1873-3212
DOI:10.1016/j.cej.2023.146058