Water emulsions of dibutyl dixantogen and their interaction with the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and silicon dioxide

Aqueous micro-emulsions of dibutyl dixantogen as an active compound of commercial flotation agent are produced and analyzed using the methods of dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements. It is found that the typical hydrodynamic diameter of dixantogen drops is of the order of 300 nm and their zeta potentials are negative. The effect exerted on properties of hydrophobic (pyrolytic graphite) and hydrophilic (silicon dioxide) surfaces by pretreatment with micro-emulsions is examined using the atomic-force microscopy method and colloid probe (SiO2 micro-sphere). The long-range highamplitude attraction forces, probably of capillary nature, are revealed between the probe and substrata after the contact with dixantogen for 1 min. It is supposed that these forces are conditioned by the action of gas nano-structures (nano-bubbles, nano-cavities, etc.) initiated on the surface rendered hydrophobic by dixantogen.