Effect of ionic sizes on the stability ratio of a dispersion of particles with a charge-regulated surface

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2004 Apr 15;272(2):352-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2003.10.007.

Abstract

The influence of the ionic sizes on the stability of a dispersion of particles, which have an amphoteric, charged-regulated surface, is discussed. A modified Poisson-Boltzmann equation, which takes into account the sizes of ionic species, is adopted to describe the electrical field. An extended DLVO theory, which takes into account the electrical, the van der Waals, and the hydration energies, is used to estimate the stability of a colloidal dispersion. The effects of the key parameters, including ionic strength, pH, and density of surface sites, on the behavior of problem under consideration are examined. The results obtained are qualitatively consistent with experimental findings in the literature.