On the electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential of montmorillonite in non-aqueous media

Experimental results on the electrophoretic velocity and mobility of Ca-montmorillonite in 2-propanol are reported. The variation of the electrophoretic velocity with the externally applied electric field and the particle size range, at constant volume fraction and temperature, is considered. Given the difficulties for determining the types and concentrations of ions present in these liquid media, two methods are discussed for the estimation of the double layer thickness and hence the product, necessary for the determination of the zeta potential () of the interface. Although both methods of calculation yield different values of, the results for the zeta potential are very similar in the regions of and characteristic of our systems. The application to the experimental data of three theoretical relations between electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential is also discussed.