Convective Instability in a Liquid-Liquid System Due to Complexation with a Crown Ether

Periodic convective instability has been observed in a biphasic system during the complexation reaction of alkali picrate and dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 which undergoes mass transfer from the hexane phase into the aqueous phase. The convection was visualized by means of precipitated crystals that are formed in both phases by the complexation reaction. The fluid motion was observed with an optical microscope and further analyzed with the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. The partition at the extraction of cesium into the organic phase was followed by means of the radioactive isotope ¹³⁷Cs. The type of the hydrodynamic instability is governed by the alkali metal expressed via its stability constants for the complex formed. More stable complexes trigger a higher precipitation, thereby favoring a Raleigh−Taylor instability. Complexes with a lower stability constant induce Marangoni cells which show a pulsating character in a cubic container. Depending on the confinement of the experiment cell the fluid motion can also follow a back-and-forth movement. Possible mechanisms for the occurring oscillations are discussed.