Low-frequency electrical conductivity of aqueous kaolinite suspensions: surface conductance, electrokinetic potentials and counterion mobility

Abstract

AbstractThe low-frequency conductivity of aqueous kaolinite suspensions has been measured as a function of volume fraction and concentration of KCl, K2SO4and BaCl2, respectively. These measurements were interpreted with a theoretical model accounting for surface conductivity and particle shape. For the first time, an internally consistent data set was established by measuring all parameters necessary to solve the relevant equations. The simultaneous availability of surface conductivity, surface charge density and diffuse layer charge density permitted the estimation of counterion mobilities in the stagnant layer and a consistency check for the evaluation procedure of the conductivity experiments. In agreement with current literature results, monovalent counterions were found to have a Stern layer mobility similar to their bulk mobility, whereas the mobility of divalent counterions in this layer is reduced by a factor of ∼2.