Theoretical studies of the early stage coagulation kinetics for a charged colloidal dispersion

We study the early stage coagulation kinetics for a charged colloidal dispersion which is here modeled by an effective two-body colloid-colloid potential. The colloidal system was physically prepared by choosing sets of colloidal parameters varying in particular the Hamaker constant and the particle's size. The kinetics of coagulation process was driven by the addition of an indifferent electrolyte and assumed to proceed in two quasi-steady steps. In the first step, colloidal particles are destabilized by the presence of a second potential minimum to diffuse from a bulk-stabilized liquid phase to a flocculated phase. In the second step, we assume that different entities are found in the second potential minimum. The entities comprise secondary dimers, secondary dimers undergoing redispersion, and monomers still in singlet states. If, under favorable condition, this kind of interaction-driven diffusive motion continues, a fraction of the secondary dimers will be induced to undergo primary dimers formation in the first deep minimum. Whether or not the latter process occurs is determined either energetically by the potential barrier falling below a prescribed value, say of 15k(B)T, or/and the second potential minimum becoming negligibly small (with a magnitude coagulation transition and would throw a fresh light on the use of both the energy and the kinetic criteria for understanding the colloidal stability such as those observed in the liquid-liquid coexistence.     

On the use of the Knudsen number and aerosol Knudsen number in the kinetics of Brownian coagulation of aerosols

We consider, on the basis of dimensional analysis, the use of the Knudsen number and aerosol Knudsen number in the kinetics of Brownian coagulation of aerosols. The aerosol Knudsen numberKn _p emerges naturally when one assumes that the aerosol particle motion can be described in terms of Brownian motion. Examples of dimensionless coagulation constants consistent with the use ofKn _p are also discussed.     

Cluster aggregation and fragmentation kinetics model for gelation

Gelation can occur in polymer, hydrogel, and colloid systems that undergo reversible aggregation-fragmentation (crosslinking accompanied by breakage). Gelation, characterized by rapid divergence of weight-average molecular weight and viscosity due to initial network formation, can be reversed if conditions change. In this paper, reversible aggregation and fragmentation in the pre-gelation time period are modeled with distribution kinetics. Moment equations are obtained from the population balance equation, and solved for eight different rate kernels. We identify the cases for which gelation is possible and obtain the critical values for the rate constants that allow gelation. The model provides a good simulation of published experimental data for aggregation and degradation of plasticized wheat gluten during thermo-mechanical treatments. We also evaluate two closure approximations based on Gamma and log-normal distributions, and conclude that log-normal closure predicts all five possible steady states, in agreement with the Vigil-Ziff criterion, and Gamma closure predicts only three. However, Gamma closure approximates the steady state either closely or exactly, whereas log-normal closure only poorly approximates the steady-state distribution.     

The growth kinetics and polydispersity of condensational aerosols

This work is a theoretical analysis of aerosol growth in a recently developed laminar flow aerosol generator, a modification of the Sinclair-LaMer generator. The parameters which affect the aerosol size distribution are elucidated by rigorous analysis of the droplet growth kinetics and transport phenomena associated with vapor condensation on nuclei in a nonisothermal flow field. The results of the analysis are compared with available experimental data. Theory and experiment are in excellent agreement with respect to the effects of using nitrogen rather than helium as a carrier gas, and other experimentally observed characteristics are predicted.     

Thermodynamics and kinetics of aggregation for the GNNQQNY peptide

The energy landscape of the monomer and dimer are explored for the amyloidogenic heptapeptide GNNQQNY from the N-terminal prion-determining domain of the yeast protein Sup35. The peptide is modeled by a united-atom potential and an implicit solvent representation. Replica exchange molecular dynamics is used to explore the conformational space, and discrete path sampling is employed to investigate the pathways that interconvert the most populated minima on the free energy surfaces. For the monomer, we find a rapid fluctuation between four different conformations, where a geometry intermediate between compact and extended structures is the most thermodynamically favorable. The GNNQQNY dimer forms three stable sheet structures, namely in-register parallel, off-register parallel, and antiparallel. The antiparallel dimer is stabilized by strong electrostatic interactions resulting from interpeptide hydrogen bonds, which restrict its conformational flexibility. The in-register parallel dimer, which is close to the amyloid beta-sheet structure, has fewer interpeptide hydrogen bonds, making hydrophobic interactions more important and increasing the conformational entropy compared to the antiparallel sheet. The estimated two-state rate constants indicate that the formation of dimers from monomers is fast and that the dimers are kinetically stable against dissociation at room temperature. Interconversions between the different dimers are feasible processes and are more likely than dissociation.     

Expansion coefficients and moments of electron momentum densities for singly charged ions

Numerical Hartree–Fock calculations of the first three coefficients of the MacLaurin expansion and the leading coefficient of the large-p asymptotic expansion of the electron momentum densities Π(p) are reported for 54 singly charged atomic cations from He⁺ (atomic number Z = 2) to Cs⁺ (Z = 55) and 43 anions from H⁻ (Z = 1) to I⁻ (Z = 53) in their experimental ground states. We also report all the finite moments <p ^k > (−2≤k≤+4) of the momentum densities Π(p) for the above-mentioned 97 ionic species. The results are compared with the previous ones for neutral atoms [Koga and Thakkar (1996) J Phys B 29: 2973], and the dependence of the expansion coefficients and moments on nuclear charge is discussed among isoelectronic species. Received: 20 November 1998 / Accepted: 15 January 1999 / Published online: 7 June 1999     

Solubility and aggregation of charged surfactants in ionic liquids

Room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) exhibit a unique set of properties, leading to opportunities for numerous applications. To obtain a better understanding of IL interfaces at a molecular level, we combined charged surfactants with ILs and studied their interfacial behavior. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) of each surfactant-IL pair was determined from both solubility phase diagrams and isotherms. Because the cmc is equivalent to the solubility at the Krafft temperature, a connection between the solubility of the surfactant and the physical properties of the underlying ionic liquid was established. Interfacial energy was found to be the major factor affecting the surfactant aggregation process, although its magnitude depends strongly on the IL structure. The results here give insight into explaining the nature of self-assembly of surfactants at IL interfaces and the interaction between solutes and IL solvents.     

Determination of liposome–buffer distribution coefficients of charged drugs by capillary electrophoresis frontal analysis

The potential of using CE frontal analysis (CE‐FA) to study the interactions between a range of charged low molecular weight drug substances and liposomes was evaluated. The liposomes used were net negatively charged and consisted of 2‐oleoyl‐1‐palmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine and 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphate monosodium salt in a ratio of 80/20 mol%. Apparent distribution coefficients (D_mem), defined as the molar concentration of drug substance in the membrane phase divided by the molar concentration of drug substance in the aqueous phase, were successfully determined for six positively and eight negatively charged drug substances with log D_mem ranging from 1.35 to 3.63. The extent of liposome–buffer distribution was found to be dependent on the drug concentration. The results obtained with the developed CE‐FA method were in good agreement with results obtained by equilibrium dialysis. Furthermore, the CE‐FA method was faster, less labor intensive and required smaller sample volumes (～50 μL) compared with equilibrium dialysis. Thus, CE‐FA is an efficient and useful tool for the characterization of interactions between liposomes and low molecular weight drug substances.     

Analysis of chemical kinetics at the gas-aqueous interface for submicron aerosols

The effect of kinetics of chemical reactions in the gas-liquid interface between atmospheric gases and reactive solute in dilute aqueous aerosols is analysed in order to see if such processes will affect the overall uptake rate. Accordingly, a parameterization of such heterogeneous reactions was derived, taking into account interfacial reactions. Gibbs surface excess concentration of both reactive compounds and stable compounds leads to higher heterogeneous reaction rates in comparison to aqueous phase bulk reactions. An analytical formulation shows that the surface reactions may be of considerable importance for the uptake process in the case of small liquid aerosols even in the absence of organic film on the surface. In particular, we demonstrate that the uptake rate of atmospheric gas-phase oxidants (such as OH, NO(3) or O(3)) reacting with volatile organic compounds (such as ethanol or methanol) is increased by more than 10% for atmospheric aerosols with diameters lower than 0.1 microm. This effect is in addition intensified in the case of reactions of atmospheric oxidants with liquid aerosols containing organic surfactants, such as semi-volatile organic compounds, i.e., the chemical reactions at the gas-liquid interface may be dominant in the main uptake process for atmospheric submicron aerosols.     

Optical trapping for the characterization of amyloid-beta aggregation kinetics

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is marked by the accumulation of neuronal plaques from insoluble amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides. Growing evidence for the role of Aβ oligomers in neuronal cell cytotoxicity and pathogenesis has prompted the development of novel techniques to better understand the early stages of aggregation. Near infrared (NIR) optical trapping was applied to characterize the early stages of Aβ aggregation in the presence of a β-sheet intercalating dye, Congo Red (CR), as the fluorescent marker. The integration of fluorescence analysis with NIR optical trapping has provided a new outlook into the first two hours of Aβ aggregation.     

Charging and aggregation of latex particles by oppositely charged dendrimers

Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers were shown to adsorb strongly on negatively charged latex particles, and their effect on the particle charge and aggregation behavior was investigated by light scattering and electrophoretic mobility measurements. Time-resolved simultaneous static and dynamic light scattering was used to measure absolute aggregation rate constants. With increasing dendrimer dose, the overall charge could be tuned from negative to positive values through the isoelectric point (IEP). The aggregation is fast near the IEP and slows down further away. With decreasing ionic strength, the region of fast aggregation narrows and the dependence of the aggregation rate on the dendrimer dose is more pronounced. Surface charge heterogeneities become important for higher dendrimer generations. They widen the fast aggregation region, reduce the dependence of the aggregation rate on the dendrimer dose, and lead to an acceleration of the rate in the fast aggregation regime near the IEP. The ratio of the dendrimer charge and the particle charge exceeds the stoichiometric ratio of unity substantially and further increases with increasing generation. The tentative interpretation of such superstoichiometric charge neutralization involves coadsorption of anions and the finite thickness of the adsorbed dendrimer layer.     

Dissolution-accompanied aggregation kinetics of silver nanoparticles

Bare silver nanoparticles with diameters of 82 ± 1.3 nm were synthesized by the reduction of the Ag(NH(3))(2)(+) complex with D-maltose, and their morphology, crystalline structure, UV-vis spectrum, and electrophoretic mobilities were determined. Dynamic light scattering was employed to assess early stage aggregation kinetics by measuring the change in the average hydrodynamic diameter of the nanoparticles with time over a range of electrolyte types (NaCl, NaNO(3), and CaCl(2)) and concentrations. From this the critical coagulation concentration values were identified as 30, 40, and 2 mM for NaNO(3), NaCl, and CaCl(2), respectively. Although the silver nanoparticles were observed to dissolve in all three electrolyte solutions, the aggregation results were still consistent with classical Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The dissolution of the silver nanoparticles, which were coated with a layer of Ag(2)O, was highly dependent on the electrolyte type and concentration. In systems with Cl(-) a secondary precipitate, likely AgCl, also formed and produced a coating layer that incorporated the silver nanoparticles. Aggregation of the silver nanoparticles was also examined in the presence of Nordic aquatic fulvic acid and was little changed compared to that evaluated under identical fulvic acid-free conditions. These results provide a fundamental basis for further studies evaluating the environmental fate of silver nanoparticles in natural aquatic systems.     

The kinetics of formation of aerosols in gas flows

It was shown for the example of CsI aerosol that the aggregation of primary aerosol particles could be described in terms of either the discrete or continuum model. This conclusion was drawn on the basis of experiments performed by the method that allowed primary particles to be observed against the background of their aggregates and transfer of primary particles from aerosol volume to a collector to be provided. The size of primary particles on the collector was determined by transmission electron microscopy. It was found that, under the conditions used, the size distribution of primary particles corresponded to the Fokker-Planck equation.     

Problems of the coagulation kinetics of suspensions

Results obtained in an experimental study of the coagulation kinetics of suspensions by the sedimentation method, a simulation of the sedimentation of coagulating suspensions, and data following from the known solutions to equations of coagulation kinetics are compared.     

Self-diffusion coefficients of ions in the presence of charged obstacles

The self-diffusion coefficient of ions of the charge- and size-symmetric +1:-1 (or +2:-2) electrolyte was studied in the presence of ionic obstacles (matrix) representing disordered media. For this purpose the Brownian dynamics method was used, complemented with the replica Ornstein-Zernike theory for the partly-quenched systems. The matrix was prepared by a rapid quench of the size-symmetric +1:-1 (in few cases also of +2:-2) electrolyte solution being in equilibrium at (temperature, relative permittivity) T0, epsilon. Within the matrix the charge- and size-symmetric (+1:-1 or +2:-2) electrolyte at T1, epsilon1 was distributed. This component was fully mobile (annealed) and in thermodynamic equilibrium with the matrix. In this study a special attention was paid to the self-diffusion of the annealed ions. The ratio D/D degrees, where D degrees is the self-diffusion coefficient of ions at infinite dilution, has been studied for various model parameters varying the concentration of all species in the system. The presence of charged obstacles decreases the self-diffusion of the annealed electrolyte; the D/D degrees values are lower in the partly-quenched mixtures than in the fully annealed electrolyte of the same concentration. In the investigated range of concentrations and solvent dielectric constants, the D/D degrees values first increased with the increased concentration of annealed electrolyte present and then decreased. An increase of the strength of the Coulomb interaction between annealed ions, or between annealed and quenched charges, yielded a decrease of the self-diffusion. In the range of concentrations investigated in this work, the decrease is mainly due to the Coulomb interaction with the matrix, since the presence of neutral obstacles did not modify the diffusion properties with respect to the situation without obstacles.     

Mobility and in situ aggregation of charged microparticles at oil-water interfaces

Particle mobility, aggregate structure, and the mechanism of aggregate growth at the two-dimensional level have been of long-standing interest. Here, we use solid-stabilized emulsions as a model system to investigate the mobility of charged microparticles at poly(dimethylsiloxane) (oil)-water interfaces using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Remarkably, the rate of diffusion of the charged colloidal-sized polystyrene particles at the oil-water interface is only moderately slower than that in the bulk water phase. The ambient diffusion constant of solid particles is significantly reduced from 1.1 x 10(-9) cm2/s to 2.1 x 10(-11) cm2/s when the viscosity of the oil phase increases from 5 cSt to 350 cSt. In addition, we successfully observe the in situ structural formation of solid particles at the oil-water interface.     

Determination of the aggregation threshold of non-UV-absorbing, neutral or charged surfactants by frontal- and vacancy-frontal analysis continuous capillary electrophoresis

Supplementing our recent work on UV-absorbing anionic surfactants, new protocols based on frontal analysis continuous capillary electrophoresis (FACCE) were developed for the investigation of the aggregation threshold of non-UV absorbing anionic, cationic and neutral surfactants, and exemplified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTABr) and Brij 35. Contrary to UV-absorbing surfactants, the critical micelle concentration (CMC) determination of non-UV absorbing surfactants requires the use of a marker providing adequate detection capabilities. UV-absorbing markers were selected, according to the charge of the studied surfactant (neutral for SDS and TTABr, anionic for Brij 35). In all cases, the free marker concentration was quantified as a function of the total surfactant concentration. In addition, a modified implementation of FACCE, that we called vacancy FACCE (VFACCE), was employed for the case of the neutral surfactant. VFACCE entails first filling the capillary with the system components to be studied in the background electrolyte, next continuously introducing the plain BGE electrokinetically. The salient theoretical features of FACCE and VFACCE were compared. These new protocols were successfully applied to yield reliable CMC values within short operational time and with low sample consumption.     

Determination of inorganic pollutants in atmospheric aerosols

The main sources of air pollution by inorganic metal compounds, the sampling of aerosol particles, and sample preparation for analysis are considered. The nondestructive and destructive methods of analysis are compared, and their advantages and disadvantages are specified. The development of synthetic reference samples, which are used to determine a calibration function and to verify the accuracy of analytical results for both of the methods, is considered.     

Peculiarities of coagulation kinetics of influenza virus dispersions

The coagulation kinetics of the dispersions of the A/Mississippi/1/85 influenza virus strain in NaCl solutions was studied at various pH values via the flow ultramicroscopy technique. Results obtained for different preparation procedures of virus dispersion are compared and conditions resulted to “superfast” (faster than according to Smoluchowski’s theory) coagulation are determined. Common generalities inherent to the process of superfast coagulation of the A/Mississippi/1/85 influenza virus strain and strains previously studied are found.     

Evaporation kinetics of tetraalkylammonium ions from charged formamide drops

The rate of ion evaporation from the surface of electrically charged liquid drops may be inferred from observations of the minimum drop charge q present on drops of a given radius R. This critical relation q(R) is measured here from the fossil solid residues left by the drops after complete solvent evaporation. We obtain mobility distributions of singly charged clusters formed by charge-reduced electrosprays of tetra-n-alkylammonium salts (C(n)()H(2)(n)()(+1))(4)N(+) (n = 2-10) dissolved in formamide. These distributions exhibit modulated structures, with each wave being associated with an initial charge state of the clusters prior to charge reduction, from which critical q(R) relations follow. For n from 4 to 7, the behavior is weakly dependent on the length of the alkyl chain. Above n = 7, there is a marked increase in solvation energy of the alkylammonium ions, but drop curvature effects contribute a compensating reduction of the energy barrier for ionization. This curvature effect increases monotonically with n and is probably associated with surface activity. Few clear modulations are seen for n < 3, perhaps because of the decreased role of surface activity in transferring solute into very small drops during the Coulombic breakup of larger drops. For this reason, extension of this technique to small inorganic salts is problematic.