Interfacial Phenomena

A special issue of Colloids and Interfaces (ISSN 2504-5377).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 21632

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Guest Editor
Department of Interfacial Phenomena, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, 20-031 Lublin, Poland
Interests: physico-chemical properties of dispersed systems and their stability; the structure and wettability of the polymer (biopolymer layers); interfacial phenomena, the electrokinetic properties of solid-liquid interface
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Colloids and Interfaces is dedicated to recent advances in interfacial phenomena research, and focuses on highlighting recent interesting investigations conducted in leading laboratories around the world. Our journal is an attractive open-access publishing platform for colloids and interfaces chemistry research data. The field of interfacial phenomena is still a developing scientific area, where a number of fundamental problems have yet to be solved, and this is simultaneously a very promising area for many practical applications, such as the production of foods and detergents, pharmaceutics, in the oil industry, etc. Phenomena occurring at different phase boundaries (generally called interface phenomena) are important elements of any multiphase system, determining the properties of the whole system. Interfacial phenomena under dynamic conditions and their equilibrium properties are very interesting, and knowledge about them could be key to understanding the physico-chemical characteristics of complex multiphase systems. All these issues generate the aims and scope of this Special Issue of Colloids and Interfaces entitled “Interfacial Phenomena”.

Dr. Agnieszka Ewa Wia̧cek
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Interfacial properties
  • Interfacial layers
  • Surface tension
  • Surface free energy
  • Work of adhesion

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 37974 KiB  
Article
Electric Fields Enhance Ice Formation from Water Vapor by Decreasing the Nucleation Energy Barrier
by Leandra P. Santos, Douglas S. da Silva, André Galembeck and Fernando Galembeck
Colloids Interfaces 2022, 6(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/colloids6010013 - 9 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3020
Abstract
Video images of ice formation from moist air under temperature and electric potential gradients reveal that ambient electricity enhances ice production rates while changing the habit of ice particles formed under low supersaturation. The crystals formed under an electric field are needles and [...] Read more.
Video images of ice formation from moist air under temperature and electric potential gradients reveal that ambient electricity enhances ice production rates while changing the habit of ice particles formed under low supersaturation. The crystals formed under an electric field are needles and dendrites instead of the isometric ice particles obtained within a Faraday cage. Both a non-classical mechanism and classical nucleation theory independently explain the observed mutual feedback between ice formation and its electrification. The elongated shapes result from electrostatic repulsion at the crystal surfaces, opposing the attractive intermolecular forces and thus lowering the ice-air interfacial tension. The video images allow for the estimation of ice particle dimensions, weight, and speed within the electric field. Feeding this data on standard equations from electrostatics shows that the ice surface charge density attains 0.62–1.25 × 10−6 C·m−2, corresponding to 73–147 kV·m−1 potential gradients, reaching the range measured within thunderstorms. The present findings contribute to a better understanding of natural and industrial processes involving water phase change by acknowledging the presence and effects of the pervasive electric fields in the ambient environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfacial Phenomena)
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19 pages, 2353 KiB  
Article
Wettability and Stability of Naproxen, Ibuprofen and/or Cyclosporine A/Silica Delivery Systems
by Agnieszka Ewa Wiącek and Kacper Przykaza
Colloids Interfaces 2022, 6(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/colloids6010011 - 6 Feb 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4579
Abstract
The characteristics of the wetting process of the porous surface of silica gel when penetrated by base liquids (water and n-octane), ethanol and stable drug systems (naproxen, ibuprofen and cyclosporine A), as biologically active substances in two ethanol concentrations, were determined by [...] Read more.
The characteristics of the wetting process of the porous surface of silica gel when penetrated by base liquids (water and n-octane), ethanol and stable drug systems (naproxen, ibuprofen and cyclosporine A), as biologically active substances in two ethanol concentrations, were determined by the wetting rate vs. time. The tests were performed for contacted and non-contacted plates with the vapours of the wetting liquid. Thin-layer liquid chromatography was used to determine the penetration rate of the SiO2-coated plates, taking into account the linear dependence consistent with the Washburn equation. Additionally, the changes in the adhesive tension ΔG were determined for the tested drugs. Drug stability tests were conducted using the dynamic light scattering technique and microelectrophoresis. The penetration time of the plate depends on the properties and structure of the wetting liquid droplets. The types of interactions (dispersive, electrostatic and hydrogen bonding) formed between the silanol surface groups of the silica gel and the groups contained in the adsorbate particles are also very important factors. The greater the impact force, the slower the wetting process due to the strong penetration of the liquid into the pores of the substrate. The characteristics of the drug wetting/stability process may contribute to the development of their new forms, creating delivery systems with greater efficiency and lower side effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfacial Phenomena)
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12 pages, 2528 KiB  
Article
Electrochemical Perspective on Hematite–Malonate Interactions
by Karolina Kędra, Marzena Łazarczyk, Tajana Begović, Danijel Namjesnik, Karolina Lament, Wojciech Piasecki and Piotr Zarzycki
Colloids Interfaces 2021, 5(4), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/colloids5040047 - 31 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3010
Abstract
Organic matter (OM) interactions with minerals are essential in OM preservation against decomposition in the environment. Here, by combining potentiometric and electrophoretic measurements, we probed the mode of coordination and the role of pH-dependent electrostatic interactions between organic acids and an iron oxide [...] Read more.
Organic matter (OM) interactions with minerals are essential in OM preservation against decomposition in the environment. Here, by combining potentiometric and electrophoretic measurements, we probed the mode of coordination and the role of pH-dependent electrostatic interactions between organic acids and an iron oxide surface. Specifically, we show that malonate ions adsorbed to a hematite surface in a wide pH window between 3 and 8.7 (point of zero charge). The mode of interactions varied with this pH range and depended on the acid and surface acidity constants. In the acidic environment, hematite surface potential was highly positive (+47 mV, pH 3). At pH < 4 malonate adsorption reduced the surface potential (+30 mV at pH 3) but had a negligible effect on the diffuse layer potential, consistent with the inner-sphere malonate complexation. Here, the specific and electrostatic interactions were responsible for the malonate partial dehydration and surface accumulation. These interactions weakened with an increasing pH and near PZC, the hematite surface charge was neutral on average. Adsorbed malonates started to desorb from the surface with less pronounced accumulation in the diffuse layer, which was reflected in zeta potential values. The transition between specific and non-specific sorption regimes was smooth, suggesting the coexistence of the inner- and outer-sphere complexes with a relative ratio that varied with pH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfacial Phenomena)
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13 pages, 2664 KiB  
Article
Mathematical Modeling of Water-Soluble Astaxanthin Release from Binary Polysaccharide/Gelatin Blend Matrices
by Katarzyna Łupina, Dariusz Kowalczyk, Tomasz Skrzypek and Barbara Baraniak
Colloids Interfaces 2021, 5(3), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/colloids5030041 - 3 Aug 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3362
Abstract
Water-soluble AstaSana astaxanthin (AST) was loaded into 75/25 blend films made of polysaccharides (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), gum Arabic (GAR), starch sodium octenyl succinate (OSA), water-soluble soy polysaccharides (WSSP)) and gelatin (GEL) at levels of 0.25, 0.5, and 1%, respectively. Due to the presence [...] Read more.
Water-soluble AstaSana astaxanthin (AST) was loaded into 75/25 blend films made of polysaccharides (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), gum Arabic (GAR), starch sodium octenyl succinate (OSA), water-soluble soy polysaccharides (WSSP)) and gelatin (GEL) at levels of 0.25, 0.5, and 1%, respectively. Due to the presence of starch granules in the AST formulation, the supplemented films exhibited increased surface roughness as compared to the AST-free films. Apart from the CMC/GEL carrier, the migration of AST to water (25 °C, 32 h) was incomplete. Excluding the CMC-based carrier, the gradual rise in the AST concentration decreased the release rate. The Hopfenberg with time lag model provided the best fit for all release series data. Based on the quarter-release times (t25%), the 0.25% AST-supplemented OSA/GEL film (t25% = 13.34 h) ensured a 1.9, 2.2, and 148.2 slower release compared to the GAR-, WSSP- and CMC-based carriers, respectively. According to the Korsmeyer–Peppas model, the CMC-based films offered a quasi-Fickian release of AST (n < 0.5) with the burst effect (t100% = 0.5–1 h). In general, the release of AST from the other films was multi-mechanistic (n > 0.5), i.e., controlled at least by Fickian diffusion and the polymer relaxation (erosion) mechanism. The 1% AST-added WSSP/GEL system provided the most linear release profile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfacial Phenomena)
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19 pages, 6622 KiB  
Article
A pH-Responsive Foam Formulated with PAA/Gemini 12-2-12 Complexes
by Hernán Martinelli, Claudia Domínguez, Marcos Fernández Leyes, Sergio Moya and Hernán Ritacco
Colloids Interfaces 2021, 5(3), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/colloids5030037 - 19 Jul 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3587
Abstract
In the search for responsive complexes with potential applications in the formulation of smart dispersed systems such as foams, we hypothesized that a pH-responsive system could be formulated with polyacrylic acid (PAA) mixed with a cationic surfactant, Gemini 12-2-12 (G12). We studied PAA-G12 [...] Read more.
In the search for responsive complexes with potential applications in the formulation of smart dispersed systems such as foams, we hypothesized that a pH-responsive system could be formulated with polyacrylic acid (PAA) mixed with a cationic surfactant, Gemini 12-2-12 (G12). We studied PAA-G12 complexes at liquid–air interfaces by equilibrium and dynamic surface tension, surface rheology, and X-ray reflectometry (XRR). We found that complexes adsorb at the interfaces synergistically, lowering the equilibrium surface tension at surfactant concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of the surfactant. We studied the stability of foams formulated with the complexes as a function of pH. The foams respond reversibly to pH changes: at pH 3.5, they are very stable; at pH > 6, the complexes do not form foams at all. The data presented here demonstrate that foam formation and its pH responsiveness are due to interfacial dynamics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfacial Phenomena)
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11 pages, 1634 KiB  
Article
Formation of Myoglobin Corona at Polymer Microparticles
by Zbigniew Adamczyk and Małgorzata Nattich-Rak
Colloids Interfaces 2021, 5(2), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/colloids5020027 - 6 May 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2573
Abstract
Adsorption of myoglobin molecules at negatively charged polystyrene microparticles was studied using the dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoresis (LDV) and the solution depletion method involving atomic force microscopy (AFM). The measurements were carried out at pH 3.5 and NaCl concentration of 10−2 [...] Read more.
Adsorption of myoglobin molecules at negatively charged polystyrene microparticles was studied using the dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoresis (LDV) and the solution depletion method involving atomic force microscopy (AFM). The measurements were carried out at pH 3.5 and NaCl concentration of 10−2 and 0.15 M. Initially, the stability of myoglobin solutions and the particle suspensions as a function of pH were determined. Afterward, the formation of myoglobin molecule corona was investigated via the direct electrophoretic mobility measurements, which were converted to the zeta potential. The experimental results were quantitatively interpreted in terms of the general electrokinetic model. This approach yielded the myoglobin corona coverage under in situ conditions. The maximum hard corona coverage was determined using the AFM concentration depletion method. It was equal to 0.9 mg m−2 for the NaCl concentration in the range 0.01 to 0.15 M and pH 3.5. The electrokinetic properties of the corona were investigated using the electrophoretic mobility measurements for a broad pH range. The obtained results confirmed that thorough physicochemical characteristics of myoglobin molecules can be acquired using nM amounts of the protein. It was also argued that this method can be used for performing electrokinetic characteristics of other proteins such as the SARS-Cov-2 spike protein exhibiting, analogously to myoglobin, a positive charge at acidic pHs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interfacial Phenomena)
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