Issue 16, 2023

Surface tension models for binary aqueous solutions: a review and intercomparison

Abstract

The liquid–air surface tension of aqueous solutions is a fundamental quantity in multi-phase thermodynamics and fluid dynamics and thus relevant in many scientific and engineering fields. Various models have been proposed for its quantitative description. This Perspective gives an overview of the most popular models and their ability to reproduce experimental data of ten binary aqueous solutions of electrolytes and organic molecules chosen to be representative of different solute types. In addition, we propose a new model which reproduces sigmoidal curve shapes (Sigmoid model) to empirically fit experimental surface tension data. The surface tension of weakly surface-active substances is well reproduced by all models. In contrast, only few models successfully model the surface tension of aqueous solutions with strongly surface-active substances. For substances with a solubility limit, usually no experimental data is available for the surface tension of supersaturated solutions and the pure liquid solute. We discuss ways in which these can be estimated and emphasize the need for further research. The newly developed Sigmoid model best reproduces the surface tension of all tested solutions and can be recommended as a model for a broad range of binary mixtures and over the entire concentration range.

Graphical abstract: Surface tension models for binary aqueous solutions: a review and intercomparison

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
20 jan 2023
Accepted
22 mar 2023
First published
23 mar 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2023,25, 11055-11074

Surface tension models for binary aqueous solutions: a review and intercomparison

J. Kleinheins, N. Shardt, M. El Haber, C. Ferronato, B. Nozière, T. Peter and C. Marcolli, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2023, 25, 11055 DOI: 10.1039/D3CP00322A

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