Calculation of flocculation and coalescence rates for concentrated dispersions using emulsion stability simulations.

A simple procedure for the quantification of flocculation (k(f)) and coalescence (k(c)) rates from emulsion stability simulations (ESS) of concentrated systems is presented. It is based on a simple analytical equation, which results from the sum of well-known formulas for the separate processes of flocculation and coalescence. The expression contains k(f) and k(c) as fitting parameters and is found to reproduce the behavior predicted by ESS spanning a wide range of volume fractions (1 < phi < 30%) and surfactant concentrations (1.2 x10(-5) < C < 1.2 x 10(-4) M). This procedure allows interpretation of ESS data in terms of the referred kinetic rates. Furthermore, it could also provide an additional mean for the direct comparison of the simulation data with experimental results.