Streaming potential, electrokinetic

Streaming potentials, like other electrokinetic effects, are difficult to measure reproducibly. One means involves forcing a liquid under pressure through a porous plug or capillary and measuring E by means of electrodes in the solution on either side [6, 23, 71-73]. 

The 2eta potential (Fig. 8) is essentially the potential that can be measured at the surface of shear that forms if the sohd was to be moved relative to the surrounding ionic medium. Techniques for the measurement of the 2eta potentials of particles of various si2es are collectively known as electrokinetic potential measurement methods and include microelectrophoresis, streaming potential, sedimentation potential, and electro osmosis (19). A numerical value for 2eta potential from microelectrophoresis can be obtained to a first approximation from equation 2, where Tf = viscosity of the liquid, e = dielectric constant of the medium within the electrical double layer, = electrophoretic velocity, and E = electric field. 

There are four related electrokinetic phenomena which are generally defined as follows electrophoresis—the movement of a charged surface (i.e., suspended particle) relative to astationaiy hquid induced by an applied ectrical field, sedimentation potential— the electric field which is crested when charged particles move relative to a stationary hquid, electroosmosis—the movement of a liquid relative to a stationaiy charged surface (i.e., capiUaty wall), and streaming potential—the electric field which is created when liquid is made to flow relative to a stationary charged surface. The effects summarized by Eq. (22-26) form the basis of these electrokinetic phenomena. 

The electrokinetic processes can actually be observed only when one of the phases is highly disperse (i.e., with electrolyte in the fine capillaries of a porous solid in the cases of electroosmosis and streaming potentials), with finely divided particles in the cases of electrophoresis and sedimentation potentials (we are concerned here with degrees of dispersion where the particles retain the properties of an individual phase, not of particles molecularly dispersed, such as individual molecules or ions). These processes are of great importance in particular for colloidal systems. 

Interrelations Between the Electrokinetic Processes Equation (31.4) for electroosmosis and Eq. (31.10) for the streaming potential, as well as the analogous equations for the other two electrokinetic processes, yield the relation... 

The movement of a charged particle with respect to an adjacent liquid phase is the basic principle underlying four electrokinetic phenomena electrophoresis, electroosmosis, sedimentation potential, and streaming potential. 

Of the four electrokinetic phenomena, two (electroosmotic flow and the streaming potential) fall into the region of membrane phenomena and will thus be considered in Chapter 6. This section will deal with the electrophoresis and sedimentation potentials. 

Electrokinetic phenomena such as electroosmosis, streaming potential, and viscoelectric effects (Chapter 12)... 

In this section we describe electroosmosis and in the following section the streaming potential. These two electrokinetic techniques also permit the evaluation of f, but are subject to objection 1. In Section 12.8 we examine in greater detail the location of the surface of shear, which is the essence of objection 2 above. 

It has already been noted that there is a close similarity between electroosmosis and streaming potential. Therefore we consider this additional electrokinetic phenomenon next. 

The definition of streaming potential was presented in the previous section. Here, we derive the relation between the streaming potential and the zeta potential and discuss some of the issues that must be considered in comparing zeta potentials obtained by different electrokinetic measurements. 

Two conditions must be met to justify comparisons between f values determined by different electrokinetic measurements (a) the effects of relaxation and surface conductivity must be either negligible or taken into account and (b) the surface of shear must divide comparable double layers in all cases being compared. This second limitation is really no problem when electroosmosis and streaming potential are compared since, in principle, the same capillary can be used for both experiments. However, obtaining a capillary and a migrating particle wiih identical surfaces may not be as readily accomplished. One means by which particles and capillaries may be compared is to coat both with a layer of adsorbed protein. It is an experimental fact that this procedure levels off differences between substrates The surface characteristics of each are totally determined by the adsorbed protein. This technique also permits the use of microelectrophoresis for proteins since adsorbed and dissolved proteins have been shown to have nearly identical mobilities. 

In on effort to establish the mechanism of coal flotation and thus establish the basis for an anthracite lithotype separation, some physical and chemical parameters for anthracite lithotype differentiation were determined. The electrokinetic properties were determined by streaming potential methods. Results indicated a difference in the characteristics of the lithotypes. Other physical and chemical analyses of the lithotypes were mode to establish parameters for further differentiation. Electron-microprobe x-ray, x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescent, infrared, and density analyses were made. Chemical analyses included proximate, ultimate, and sulfur measurements. The classification system used was a modification of the Stopes system for classifying lithotypes for humic coals. 

The electrokinetic properties were determined by streaming potential methods (I). Results indicated that the surface characteristics of the litho-types are different. Hydronium and hydroxyl ions appeared to be potentialdetermining ions for coal. Results of a typical streaming potential investigation are shown in Figure 2. Potential-determining ions may be loosely defined as those ions which participate in the the electrolytic reaction that establishes equilibrium at the solid-liquid interface. When the potential-determining ions... 

In addition to the foregoing, it is customary to include under electrochemistry (I) processes for which the net reaction is physical transfer, e g., concentration cells (2) electrokinetic phenomena, e.g.. electrophoresis. eleclroosmnsis, and streaming potential (3) properties ot electrolytic solutions, if they are determined by electrochemical or other means, e g.. activity coefficients and hydrogen ion concentration (4) processes in which electrical energy is first converted to heal, which in turn causes a chemical reaction that would not occur spontaneously at ordinary temperature. The... 

If a liquid moves tangential to a charged surface, then so-called electrokinetic phenomena arise [101]. Electrokinetic phenomena can be divided into four categories Electrophoresis, electro-osmosis, streaming potential, and sedimentation potential [102], In all these phenomena the zeta potential plays a crucial role. The classic theory of electrokinetic effects was proposed by Smoluchowski2 [103],... 

Electrophoresis has the greatest practical applicability of these electrokinetic phenomena and has been studied extensively in its various forms, whereas electro-osmosis and streaming potential have been studied to a moderate extent and sedimentation potential rarely, owing to experimental difficulties. 

Also in other confined compression experiments, a streaming potential was measured when a mechanical load was applied [2], This streaming potential is characterised by an electrokinetic coefficient ke ... 

In our confined swelling and compression experiment, we also applied a mechanical load to the sample (t = 12.5 h). We measured a streaming potential A = 0.85 0.65 mV. The change in the mechanical load A a equals -0.117 MPa. Thus, the value for the electrokinetic coefficient is —7.3 5.6 mV MPa-1. This was in the same range as measured for bovine cartilage. 

---