Rheological and Solid-Liquid Separation Properties of Bimodal Suspensions of Colloidal Gibbsite and Boehmite

Bimodal suspensions of nanometer-sized boehmite particles and micron-sized gibbsite particles in 0.10 M NaNO3 are used as models to gain insight into the physical properties of agglomerating colloidal suspensions containing bimodal distributions of primary particles. Results on the gibbsite-boehmite mixtures show that the presences of small particles in a suspension can have a dramatic impact on the rheological, sedimentation, and filtration characteristics of suspensions of larger particles. Transmission electron micrographs show that boehmite forms a coating on the larger gibbsite particles. The coating provides steric repulsion and reduces the attractive interactions between the larger particles, leading to viscosity decreases and greater densification of sediments and filter cakes. A model has been developed to rationalize observed property changes based on the range of agglomerate structures that can form in mixtures of large and small particles. Results are discussed in the content of the processing of nuclear waste sludges, but are applicable to a wide range of bimodal suspensions.