Double-diffusive instability during liquid-liquid mass transfer---simulation and experiment

Mass transfer across interfaces in liquid-liquid systems may give rise to hydrodynamic instability and the formation of various dissipative, i. e. convective, structures. There are two basic mechanisms leading to instability. The first one is related to the action of surface tension gradients in systems with free interfaces and is referred to as Marangoni effect while the second one is related to buoyancy forces and is referred to as Rayleigh-B'enard instability. Convection at the interface and in the bulk of the liquids greatly enhances mass transfer rates. This paper reports on experimental and numerical studies which have been carried out on systems where the transferred species undergoes a chemical reaction at the interface and buoyancy forces predominate.