The role of hydrophobicity and dissolved gases in non-equilibrium surface phenomena

Theoretical analysis of interparticle interaction in the presence of dissolved gases is carried out. It is shown that, depending on the type of interacting macrobodies and the location of gas inclusions, the van der Waals forces can change not only their values but even their sign. Regularities of change of interparticle interaction as a function of number and characteristic size of gas inclusions are analyzed. The obtained results can explain the so-called “long-range hydrophobic forces” and the peculiarities of dissolved gas influence on the efficacy of microflotation and rate of coagulation.