Revealing of water surface pollution with liquid marbles

Floating of liquidmarbles'' on the surface of water contaminated with organic compounds was studied. Marbles were obtained with spreading of hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride particles on the surface of water droplets. Marbles floated stably on the water surface, whereas they were destroyed on the water surfaces contaminated with silicon oil and kerosene. Limiting conditions of floating were studied experimentally with the water/alcohol mixtures. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.