The first example of stable and environmentally friendly foam that can be broken down by any one of three external stimuli has been developed by an international team of scientists.
From left to right: foam before and after an increase in temperature, UV irradiation and exposure to a magnetic field
Foams are commonly applied in the clean-up of chemical spills, where they are sprayed over large areas to prevent evaporation of volatile and harmful organic materials. While this demands stability, the foam then needs to be destabilised for transport due to its voluminous nature, often accomplished by the addition of an anti-foaming agent. The resulting liquid mixture can then be removed and the components recovered. Recent studies have tried to create stable foams which can be destabilised by external stimuli to remove the need for the addition of extra chemicals.
Orlin Velev and Stephanie Lam of North Carolina State University have collaborated with Anne-Laure Fameau from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research, to pool their multidisciplinary backgrounds in foams and emulsions, and colloids.
Read the full article in Chemistry World»
Read the original journal article in Chemical Science:
Multi-stimuli responsive foams combining particles and self-assembling fatty acids
Anne-Laure Fameau, Stephanie Lam and Orlin D. Velev
Chem. Sci., 2013, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C3SC51774H
