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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination
Published on: September 25, 2014
Influence of the Counterion Nature on the Stability Sequence of Hydrophobic Latex Particles
Jean-Luc Trompette1, Jean-François Lahitte1
1Laboratoire de Génie Chimique UMR 5503 , Université de Toulouse, CNRS , 4 Allée Emile Monso , 31432 Toulouse Cedex 4 , France.
Abstract:
The aggregation kinetics of negatively charged polystyrene latex particles in the presence of monovalent electrolytes have been investigated. The inferred coagulation critical concentrations were compared to establish the stability sequence. With the same representative co-ions, this sequence is reversed when using kosmotrope sodium and chaotrope potassium cations. The results have been ascribed to a variable competition of the co-ions toward the hydrophobic surface depending on the lyotropic nature of the associated counterion. They provide new insights into the implication of ionic specificity in the stability behavior of aqueous dispersions of charged colloids.
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