Passage of a bubble through a liquid-liquid interface

The aim of this study is to investigate the bubble passage at a liquid-liquid interface using a high-speed video camera (950 images per second) and a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system. Experiments were conducted in a square Plexiglas column of 0.1 m. Bubbles were generated through a submerged orifice (D = 1 X 10(-3) m). The Newtonian Emkarox (HV45) solution was employed for the heavy phase whereas two different organic liquids of different viscosity (Silicone oil 10 mPa s and 100 mPa s) were used as light phase. Experimental results show the effect of the bubble size and the viscosity of the light phase on the retention time, the length of the column of fluid entrained behind the bubble, the bubble velocity as well as the velocity fields at the liquid-liquid interface. (c) 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.