Interfacial Effects during Phase Change in Multiple Levitated Tetrahydrofuran Hydrate Droplets

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03024
• Publication Date: 2023-01-20T18:04:17Z
• Authors: Adam McElligott; André Guerra; Alexia Denoncourt; Alejandro D. Rey; Phillip Servio
• Keywords: Clathrate hydrate; Tetrahydrofuran; Supercooling; Acoustic levitation; Crystal (programming language)

Recent strategies developed to examine the nucleation of crystal structures like tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrates without effects a solid interface have included acoustic levitation, where only liquid-gas initially exists. However, ability now exists levitate and freeze multiple droplets simultaneously, which could reveal interdroplet provide further insight into interfacial phenomena. In this study, using direct digital infrared imaging techniques, freezing up three simultaneous THF hydrate was investigated for first time. Nucleation initiated at aqueous solution-air interface. Two pseudo-heterogeneous mechanisms created additional interfaces: one from cavitation entraining microbubbles another subvisible ice particles, also called hydrate-nucleating particles (HNPs), impacting droplet surface. For systems containing in both second third positions, statistically between all droplets. This effect may been caused by high liquid-solid pressures that nucleation, causing some cracking initial shell around releasing HNPs (now hydrate) air. During crystallization, completely white opacity, termed optical clarity loss (OCL). It suggested growth rates within resulted capture tiny air bubbles phase. turn, light refraction through many smaller OCL. These structural inhomogeneities, explain how volumetric expansion upon complete solidification 23.6% compared with 7.4% pure, stationary systems. Finally, thermal gradient top bottom during melting surface tension along air-liquid convective cells droplet, it spin rapidly about horizontal axis.