Experimental Study of the Polydispersity of Aqueous Colloid of Palygorskite and Suspensions of Escherichia Coli and Pseudomonas Fluorescens by an Electrooptical Method

The results of experimental study on the polydispersity of an aqueous colloid of palygorskite and aqueous suspensions of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas fluorescens(Ps. fluorescens) are reported. The study is based on the use of a new method; i.e., on the investigation of an electrooptical effect appearing when a weak sinusoidal electric field with sinusoidal amplitude modulation is applied on the system. This method was developed for studying systems in which only slight particle orientation is possible under action of an external electric field. Disperse systems with a high conductivity, including cell suspensions and other biocolloids, colloids containing small particles, as well as solutions of macromolecules and polyelectrolytes, are among such systems. The experimental setup developed in this work is described. The results obtained are compared with data of microscopic measurements and the results of the study of polydispersity in strong fields based on the investigation of the relaxation of electrooptical effect.