A low-cost automated streaming potential measurement system.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Surface charge characterization is crucial for designing and testing coatings and membranes.
• Commercial zeta potential meters are often expensive and lack adaptability for diverse membrane designs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-cost, automated streaming potential meter.
• To overcome the limitations of commercial instruments in terms of cost and adaptability.

Main Methods:

• Combined inexpensive off-the-shelf components and rapid prototyping for a test mount.
• Developed custom software (Visual C#) for USB data acquisition and control.
• Measured streaming potential across a polyethersulfone membrane using controlled transmembrane pressure.

Main Results:

• Achieved repeatable streaming potential measurements for transmembrane pressures between -15 and 15 kPa.
• Demonstrated linear transmembrane voltages with R² values > 0.9995.
• Calculated zeta potentials consistent with literature values for the tested membrane.

Conclusions:

• The developed system provides a cost-effective and automated solution for streaming potential measurements.
• The low-cost meter is suitable for accurate surface charge characterization of membranes.
• This approach offers a viable alternative for research and industrial applications requiring zeta potential analysis.