Effect of surface charge and particle size on gel structure of aluminum hydroxycarbonate gel

The effect of surface charge and particle size on the gel structure of aluminum hydroxycarbonate gel was studied through the use of a specially designed tension cell. Surface charge has a major effect on the coefficient of bulk compressibility. The charged state is more compressible at lower tensions while the neutral gel is more compressible at higher tensions. In addition, physical properties of gels having a small particle size are more profoundly influenced by interparticle forces than are gels consisting of larger particles. The effect of surface charge and particle size on gel structure is applied to physical properties such as viscosity and dewatering.