Enhancement of the attachment performance with oil droplet by coating of condensate film on the surface of air bubble

The weak adhesion between oil droplets and bubbles frequently reduces the flotation effectiveness of oil removal. This study focuses on the hydrophobic and oleophilic modification of bubble surfaces by encapsulating light hydrocarbon homologue-condensate to address this issue. The adhesion properties were characterized by the surface properties and interaction barriers of oil droplets and air/ condensate bubbles. The results indicated that condensate bubbles exhibited shorter induction time and faster spreading rate than air bubbles when adhering to oil droplets. The condensate film effectively extracted the oil droplets and completely enveloped the bubble surface. Furthermore, the non-DLVO model best fitted bubble induction time, revealing negative interaction energy barriers that promoted adhesion between condensate bubbles and oil droplets. In summary, coating a condensate film on bubble surfaces enhances the adhesion effect on oil droplets, which research provides valuable theoretical guidance for applying condensate bubble flotation process.