Sedimentation potential

Sedimentation potential occurs due to dispersed particles motion relative to the fluid under influence of either gravity or centrifugation. This motion disrupts equilibrium symmetry of the particles double layer. Enveloping viscous flow around the particles drags ions of the diffuse layer away from the particles. This causes slight displacement between surface charge and electric charge of the diffuse layer. Particle gains dipole moment. These dipole moments generate electric field that is called sedimentation potential. It can be measured for electric open circuit.

Additional recommended knowledge

Recognize and detect the effects of electrostatic charges on your balance

How to quickly check pipettes?

Better weighing performance in 6 easy steps

There is also notion of sedimentation current. It is electric current generated by sedimentation potential for electric short circuit

There is detailed descriptions of this effect in many books on Colloid and Interface Science^[1], ^[2], ^[3],^[4],^[5], ^[6].

References

1. ^ Lyklema, J. “Fundamentals of Interface and Colloid Science”, vol.2, page.3.208, 1995
2. ^ Hunter, R.J. "Foundations of Colloid Science", Oxford University Press, 1989
3. ^ Dukhin, S.S. & Derjaguin, B.V. "Electrokinetic Phenomena", J.Willey and Sons, 1974
4. ^ Russel, W.B., Saville, D.A. and Schowalter, W.R. “Colloidal Dispersions”, Cambridge University Press,1989
5. ^ Kruyt, H.R. “Colloid Science”, Elsevier: Volume 1, Irreversible systems, (1952)
6. ^ Dukhin, A.S. and Goetz, P.J. "Ultrasound for characterizing colloids", Elsevier, 2002

Category

Interface and Colloid Science