Removal of Solid Organic Films from Rotating Disks Using Emulsion Cleaners

Abstract

Measurements have been made of the rate of removal of a solid organic film (phenanthrene) from the surface of a rotating disk using emulsions containing water, the nonionic surfactant Tween 20, and d-limonene as the organic phase. The results show that phenanthrene removal initially occurs by the uptake of phenanthrene into the emulsion drops as small aggregates. Simultaneously, the organic phase penetrates into the phenanthrene film, diminishing the adhesive force between the film and the substrate. After sufficient time, the phenanthrene film detaches from the rotating disk surface as a solid. This detachment mechanism accounts for the vast majority of the phenanthrene removal (∼90%). Initial solubilization rates were analyzed using two solubilization models. Both models assume that phenanthrene removal occurs via a mass transfer limited removal of phenanthrene-laden emulsion drops from the phenanthrene film surface into the bulk solution. One model treats the emulsion as homogeneous while the other accounts for the finite size of the emulsion droplets. The latter model was also used to relate the flux of organic phase impacting the phenanthrene film to the detachment times.