The nucleation and detachment of bubbles

Abstract

The equation of Wilt, (P. M. Wilt, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 1986, 112, 530) for the nucleation of gas bubbles from a supersaturated solution has been tested experimentally for the specific case of the CO₂–H₂O system. In certain circumstances it is shown that this equation adequately predicts the kinetics of heterogeneous nucleation. It is pointed out, however, that the description of the mechanism implicit in the derivation of that equation may often not be correct, and that there is good reason for believing that it will not in general be applicable. A simple theoretical treatment is developed which allows a prediction of the conditions under which the classical nucleation theory is expected to apply.