Most experimental studies of particle destabilization prior to flocculation and granular media filtration characterize the surface charge of particles using the observed average zeta potential. A more complete accounting of particle–particle and particle–collector interactions can be deduced from analyzing the complete distribution of particle zeta potentials. Zeta potential distributions (ZPDs) of silica particles under chemical conditions reflective of destabilization by pH control, ionic strength adjustment, alum destabilization, and polymer destabilization were investigated. Most of the ZPDs of silica particles were broad and skewed (i.e. not normally distributed). When particle surface charge is controlled by pH control, ionic strength adjustment, and alum destabilization, the variances of the ZPDs are comparable. However, when a high-charge-density polymer is utilized as the coagulant, under-dosed and optimally dosed systems result in ZPDs that are broad and over-dosed systems result in narrow distributions.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
November 01 2006
Zeta potential distributions in particle treatment processes
Jinkeun Kim;
Jinkeun Kim
1Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, C1786, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
2Present address: Water Resources Academy, Korea Water Resources Corporation, Daejeon, 306–711, Korea
Search for other works by this author on:
Jeffrey A. Nason;
Jeffrey A. Nason
1Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, C1786, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
Search for other works by this author on:
Desmond F. Lawler
1Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, C1786, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
E-mail: dlawler@mail.utexas.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2006) 55 (7-8): 461–470.
Article history
Received:
April 04 2006
Accepted:
July 27 2006
Citation
Jinkeun Kim, Jeffrey A. Nason, Desmond F. Lawler; Zeta potential distributions in particle treatment processes. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 November 2006; 55 (7-8): 461–470. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2006.056
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.