CHARACTERISATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF CONCENTRATED, FLOCCULATED SUSPENSIONS

Abstract

ABSTRACT The structure and properties or concentrated, flocculated suspensions are of widespread importance with respect to separation, handling and related processes in the chemical and allied industries. To improve understanding of such systems it is essential that these materials be studied using methods which directly probe structure and structure-dependent characteristics. In this paper we describe investigations of floc structure using techniques which are suitable for examining morphology in concentrated dispersions, avoiding dilution, or other gross perturbation of the system, before or during measurement. From studies or electrolyte-coagulated and, in particular, polymer-flocculated suspensions a number of general principles are mapped out concerning the influence of basic parameters on the structure and properties of aggregated dispersions.