Interfacial jamming and mechanical hysteresis in surfactant-stabilised nanobubbles: A predictive kinetic model for stability in flotation and beyond
https://doi.org/10.17586/2220-8054-2026-17-3-280-290
Abstract
A minimal 0D kinetic model for interfacial jamming of surfactant-stabilised nanobubbles is presented. The model couples Langmuir adsorption kinetics with geometric concentration and mechanical equilibrium. A sharp jamming boundary exists in the (Langmuir affinity, desorption rate) plane; commercial butyl and isobutyl xanthates lie deep inside the jammed region at typical flotation dosages (Monte-Carlo probability 1.00). Hysteresis energy spans 10−14 to 10−9 J, and the critical bulk concentration for jamming ranges from 8.2 · 10−6 to 0.35 mol m−3. The boundary shifts predictably with bulk concentration, pressure, and cycle time, but is insensitive to the shell modulus. Numerical convergence is confirmed, and a one-cycle divergence exponent peaks at +0.42 s−1 near the transition. The model provides a predictive tool for surfactant-stabilised nanobubbles across flotation, catalysis, and biomedical nanosystems.
Supporting agencies: The authors thank N.H. Treow for valuable advice and support. We also thank an anonymous advisor for constructive suggestions that significantly improved the manuscript
About the Authors
L. Hou
College of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology
China
China
Liyu Hou – Department of Mineral Processing Engineering.
Taiyuan Shanxi 030024
H. Li
College of Mining Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology
China
China
Hongliang Li – Department of Mineral Processing Engineering.
Taiyuan, Shanxi 030024
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Review
For citations:
Hou L., Li H. Interfacial jamming and mechanical hysteresis in surfactant-stabilised nanobubbles: A predictive kinetic model for stability in flotation and beyond. Nanosystems: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics. 2026;17(3):280-290. https://doi.org/10.17586/2220-8054-2026-17-3-280-290
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