Sedimentation of concentrated spherical particles with a charge-regulated surface

The sedimentation of a concentrated colloidal dispersion is examined for the case of an arbitrary double-layer thickness. Here, a general mixed-type condition on particle surface is assumed, and the classic models, which assume constant surface properties, can be recovered as the special cases of the present analysis. In particular, the behavior of biological cells, which carry dissociable functional groups on their surfaces, and particles, which are capable of exchanging ions with the surrounding medium, can be simulated by the present model. The mixed-type boundary condition leads to several interesting results in both sedimentation velocity and sedimentation potential as double-layer thickness and the concentration of particles vary.