Particle Destabilization in Turbulent Pipe Flow

Abstract

Silica suspensions (pH = 6.8) and three different cationic polymers were used to study the kinetics of charge neutralization by polyelectrolyte adsorption. The experiments were performed in a continuous flow pipe reactor under steady state turbulent flow conditions. The charge neutralization was monitored by electrophoretic mobility (EPM) measurements of the suspended particles as a function of time after polyelectrolyte audition. The results show the dependency of the destabilization reaction rate on flow and polymer characteristics.