Role of partially flocculated sols in emulsion stability

Summary The stability of emulsion of Toluene in water stabilized by partially flocculated ferric hydroxide sol has been studied. The size of the emulsion droplets as determined by size frequency analysis is found to be of 1.1 μ radius. The flocculation studies were carried out haemocytometrically at different amount of electrolytes and at different p_H values. The electrokinetic potential ‘ζ’ was determined micro-electrophoretically at different amounts of electrolytes and also at different p_H's. In the case of tri and tetra valent anions the charge reversal was observed. In the light of the D.V.O. theory the interaction energy profiles were drawn and 2–6 kT deep secondary minima obtained showing thereby the occurrence of reversible flocculation. Degree of aggregation has been calculated theoretically at different values of ‘A’ and the value of A was found to be 1.0×10⁻¹² erg to fit the value of degree of aggregation obtained haemocytometrically. The charge densities and binding parameters have also been calculated.