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A Designed Biosurfactant Protein for Switchable Foam Control
Author(s) -
Middelberg Anton P. J.,
DimitrijevDwyer Mirjana
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201100082
Subject(s) - dissipation , bundle , computer science , control (management) , materials science , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , chemistry , composite material , physics , engineering , artificial intelligence , thermodynamics
Making and breaking foams: A facile method for foam control is reported using a designed biosurfactant. The new biosurfactant is based on a four‐helix bundle design which is interfacially active across a broad pH range. At pH 8.5 stable foam forms, yet decreasing the pH to 7.5 causes rapid foam dissipation. This unique behaviour can be linked to subtle molecular and specific‐ion effects which lead to switchable changes in the state of the foam thin film (see picture).