STUDIES ON SUSPENDING PROPERTIES OF AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS OF SOME NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC HYDROCOLLOIDS ON CHINA-CLAY SUSPENSIONS

Abstract

The stabilizing effect of natural and synthetic hydrocolloids on china clay suspensions can be demonstrated by measurement of the settling rate of the solid phase, the final settled volume, the filtration rate of the supernatant through the bed and the turbidity of the supernatant liquid. As the experiments take some time, the use of a centrifuge is a useful device, but should a calculation of the floc size be required then the centrifugal force would be required. A method of estimating the envelope of liquid surrounding each solid particle is outlined. The thickness of this envelope is greater than that due solely to adsorption and probably owes its origin to a network of the solid surface but extending for these distances into the liquid phase. This view is consistent with the variation of all the parameters observed as the concentration of the hydrocolloid is increased.