A Hydrophilic 3D-Printed Microfluidic Device for Emulsion Studies: Preliminary Observations on the Role of Naphthenic Acids in Coalescence.

ABSTRACT: Produced water (PW) comes from oil production and contains both nonpolar and polar substances that can be dissolved or dispersed in the aqueous phase. Such a complex mixture is typically found as an oil/water emulsion (O/W), which can be stabilized by the presence of interfacial materials, such as naphthenic acids (NAs). Recent literature has focused on isolating and characterizing the acidic interfacial material, but our fundamental understanding of the role of NAs in emulsion stabilization and coalescence remains scarce. This is justified by the challenges associated with droplet formation in microfluidics. For instance, the high viscosity of the O/W affects the dominant forces in the pinch-off, as well as wetting conditions due to surface chemistry compatibility with O/W, thereby limiti

SUBMITTER: Bressan LP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12631662 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature