Characterization of Colloidal Gas Aphron Suspensions Generated from Plant-Based Natural Surfactant Solutions

Abstract

Colloidal gas aphron (CGA) suspensions generated using commercial surfactants are found to have great potential in the remediation of contaminated soils and waste streams. A plant-based natural surfactant solution prepared from the fruit pericarps of Sapindus mukorossi was used in this study to generate CGA suspensions. The CGA suspensions generated from this surfactant solution have size distributions similar to those of commercial surfactants. The stability of the CGA suspensions generated with natural surfactant solutions was observed to be higher than those generated using synthetic surfactants. However, the quality or the gas fraction of the suspensions is lower for a natural surfactant solution than that for commercial surfactants. The crude solution of natural surfactant prepared using simple water extraction contains saponins, the essential surface-active agent, and many other extraneous natural organic compounds. Yet, the CGA suspensions prepared from the crude solution seem to be comparable to those generated using synthetic surfactants in size distribution and stability.