Initial Stage Dynamics of Bridging Flocculation of Polystyrene Latex Spheres with Polyethylene Oxide

The kinetics of bridging flocculation of polystyrene latex (PSL) particles induced by addition of excess polyethylene oxide (PEO) in the initial stage was studied using standardized mixing flow generated in an end-over-end rotation apparatus. To clarify the effect of the rate of polymer supply, flocculation experiments were performed by changing polymer concentration (C(p)). As was found in previous investigation, the progress of flocculation is divided into two stages. The first stage is characterized by an enhancement of the rate of flocculation by polymer addition. The increase in polymer concentration results in a higher enhancement but in a shorter duration for this stage. In the second stage, the flocculation is essentially stopped due to the appearance of steric stabilization. It was found that the ultimate degree of flocculation goes through a maximum against C(p). That is, when C(p)>==1.0 ppm, the ultimate degree of flocculation decreases with increased C(p). In this region, a clear crossover from the first stage to the second stage was observed. In the extreme case, evidence of a slight setback of flocculation was confirmed, which implies the breakup of metastable bridges by the application of additional fluid shear. When C(p)<==1.0 ppm, the ultimate degree of flocculation decreases with decreased C(p). The crossover from the first stage to the second stage appears more gradual at lower C(p). These results were observed irrespective of ionic strength. This result was interpreted as the elimination of a bare surface due to the spreading of a steric layer of adsorbed polymer. The characteristic time for reconformation of the polymer at a bare colloidal surface was estimated to be a few seconds. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.