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Forces between colloid particles in natural waters.

Luke M Mosley¹, Keith A Hunter, William A Ducker

¹Chemistry Department, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Environmental Science & Technology

|September 12, 2003

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Natural organic matter (NOM) on colloid surfaces dictates interparticle forces in water. Adsorbed NOM influences electrostatic and steric repulsion, impacting colloid aggregation and stability in aquatic environments.

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Colloid and Surface Chemistry
Geochemistry

Background:

Colloid stability in natural waters is crucial for environmental processes.
Understanding interparticle forces is key to predicting colloid behavior.
Natural organic matter (NOM) is a significant component of aquatic colloids.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the origin and nature of interparticle forces on colloid surfaces in natural waters.
To examine the effects of adsorbed NOM, pH, and ionic composition on these forces.
To determine how NOM influences colloid aggregation and stability.

Main Methods:

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to probe interparticle forces.
Iron oxide-coated SiO2 particles were used to model natural colloids.

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Force-separation curves were measured under varying solution conditions (ionic strength, pH).

Main Results:

Natural organic matter (NOM) strongly adsorbed to iron oxide surfaces.
At low ionic strength, electrostatic repulsion dominated, with steric repulsion at close range.
At high ionic strength or low pH, steric repulsion became dominant.
Adsorbed NOM also caused adhesive bridging, hindering disaggregation.

Conclusions:

Adsorbed NOM is the primary factor controlling surface forces and colloid stability in natural waters.
NOM significantly influences electrostatic and steric interactions, affecting aggregation.
Understanding these NOM-mediated forces is essential for managing aquatic colloid systems.