Surface interaction mechanisms of air bubbles, asphaltenes and oil drops in aqueous solutions with implications for interfacial engineering processes

[Display omitted] •Interactions forces of bubbles and asphaltenes in aqueous solutions were quantified.•Surface forces of bubbles and oil droplets with asphaltenes were measured.•Hydrophobic interactions drive attachment of bubbles and oil droplets with asphaltenes.•High salinity condition facilitates attachment of bubbles and oil droplets with asphaltenes.•The presence of surfactants hinders attachment of bubbles and oil droplets with asphaltenes. Surface interactions of bubbles and oil with interface-active species like asphaltenes influence many interfacial phenomena in various engineering processes. It holds both fundamental and practical significance to quantitatively characterize these interactions. The surface forces of air bubbles, asphaltenes and asphaltenes-toluene droplets in various aqueous solutions have been quantified using an integrated thin film drainage apparatus and an atomic force microscope coupled with bubble probe. The effects of asphaltenes concentration, pH, salinity, Ca2+ ions and surfactants have been examined. Hydrophobic interaction drives attachment of bubbles and asphaltenes surfaces or oil droplets under high salinity condition. Increasing asphaltenes concentration in oil droplets enhances their hydrophobic attraction with bubbles due to strengthened asphaltenes adsorption and aggregation at oil–water interface. Increasing pH weakens the hydrophobic interaction as oil surfaces become more negatively charged and less hydrophobic. Under low salinity condition, strong electrical double layer and van der Waals repulsion inhibits the bubble-oil droplet contact. Introducing Ca2+ ions and surfactants leads to strong steric repulsion, preventing bubble-oil contact. This research has advanced our mechanistic understanding of how bubbles and oil droplets interact in aqueous systems and offers useful insights to modulate such interactions in oil production, water treatment and other interfacial processes.