Generation of Monodisperse Submicron Water-in-Diesel Emulsions via a Hydrophobic MXene-Modified Ceramic Membrane

Abstract

Ceramic membranes for emulsification are generally fabricated by particle stacking. As a result, their small adjacent pore distances and hydrophilicity cause water droplets to coalesce when preparing monodisperse submicron water-in-diesel (W/D) emulsions. Here, we present a two dimensional-modified membrane emulsification model for the first time, with the development of a hydrophobic MXene-modified ceramic membrane with a water contact angle of 144.7 ± 1.2°. Benefiting from their large lateral size, MXene nanomaterials not only increase the distance between channels but also provide longitudinal-lateral transport pathways for dispersed phases. Therefore, the dispersed phase droplets can roll along the interlayer nanochannels of the MXene-modified membrane before converging with the continuous phase, thereby preventing the coalescence of emulsions. The MXene-modified membrane presents an excellent emulsification ability for preparing W/D emulsions, and the resulting diesel emulsions are at a submicron level with a unimodal distribution, an average particle size of 400 nm, and a particle size distribution coefficient of 0.7. This novel MXene-modified membrane for emulsification is of great significance since it provides a simple and promising strategy for the development of monodisperse nano or submicron emulsions.