Adsorption structures of frothers at gas-liquid interface using DFT method

Abstract

Density functional theory (DFT) simulation was performed to investigate the adsorption mechanisms between frothers and gas-liquid interface. In water phase, the polar head group of the frother molecule was connected with water molecules by hydrogen bonding, while the non-polar group showed that hydrophobic property and water molecules around it were repelled away. The adsorption of water molecules on single frother molecule suggests that the complexes of α-terpineol-7H2O, MIBC-7H2O and DF200-13H2O reach their stable structure. The hydration shell affects both the polar head group and the non-polar group. The liquid film drainage rate of DF200 is the lowest, while α-terpineol and MIBC are almost the same. The adsorption layer of frother molecules adsorbed at the gas-liquid interface reveals that the α-terpineol molecules are more neatly arranged and better distributed. The DF200 molecules are arranged much more loosely than MIBC molecules. These results suggest that the α-terpineol molecule layer could better block the diffusion of gas through the liquid film than DF200 and MIBC. The simulation results indicate that the foam stability of α-terpineol is the best, followed by DF200 and MIBC.