Monte Carlo-based model for the extraction of oil from oil-water mixtures using wetting and surface acoustic waves.

Abstract

This work presents a Monte Carlo-based microscopic model for simulating the extraction of oil from oil-in-water emulsions under the influence of surface acoustic waves (SAWs). The proposed model is a two-dimensional Ising-lattice gas model that employs Kawasaki dynamics to mimic the interactions between oil, water, and air, as well as external forces such as gravity and acoustic stress. By incorporating both acoustic streaming and acoustic radiation pressure, the model captures key experimental observations, including selective oil extraction and droplet motion under SAW excitation. The results highlight the critical role of acoustic radiation pressure in enabling oil film formation and detachment, governed by the balance between capillary and acoustic stresses. The study provides qualitative agreement with experimental findings and offers insights into the essential mechanisms driving acoustowetting-induced phase separation, demonstrating the utility of discrete modeling for complex fluid dynamics problems.