Diffusional mass transfer (Ostwald ripening) between emulsion droplets
has been studied. By using sedimentation field-flow fractionation (Sd
FFF) coupled with gas chromatography, the disperse phase composition c
an be obtained for monosized droplet fractions. Two liquids, A and B,
were mixed together and then emulsified. The mass transfer between dro
plets of different size was driven by differences in capillary pressur
e, such that the small particles were enriched in the less soluble B c
omponent. At low concentrations of B, a bimodal size distribution emer
ged, with the small particle size fraction strongly enriched in B. The
re is a strong agreement between the experimental data and current the
ories for two-component disperse phase emulsions as developed by Kabal
nov et al.