Demulsification of dilute O/W emulsion by DC electric field

In this article, the effect of demulsification of dilute O/W emulsion in DC electric field and its mechanism are investigated. The results show that the demulsification process of dilute O/W emulsion is divided into three stages: water layer formation, re-emulsification with transverse diffusion and uplift-stabilization of O/W emulsion. There is a critical current in the electro-demulsification of dilute O/W emulsion. Some evidences confirm that O/W emulsion system with surfactant produces a surface tension gradient in the height direction during the stratification process. The critical current together with the surface tension gradient causes different demulsification processes and current variation for different emulsions.