Transport Phenomena and Electrode Reactions Generated by an Electric Field in Colloidal Silica

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science 2000-09, Vol.229 (2), p.423-430
• Main Authors: Janča, Josef, Checot, Frédéric, Gospodinova, Natalia, Touzain, Sébastien, Špírková, Milena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: charge screening by hydroquinone oxidation products; Chemical Sciences; Chemistry; colloidal silica particles in electric field; Colloidal state and disperse state; Exact sciences and technology; field-flow fractionation; General and physical chemistry; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; thin-layer isoperichoric focusing
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1006/jcis.2000.7021

The kinetics of transport phenomena generated by an electric field and leading to the formation of density gradients in suspensions of charged colloidal silica were studied by using various electrodes. The rate of approach to a steady-state density gradient was found to be much higher when using metallic electrodes (Cu, Fe, and Pt) in comparison with graphite (C) electrodes. Nevertheless, the initial rate with C electrodes was substantially increased by the addition of hydroquinone–quinone because the redox reactions, necessary for electrode–electrolyte current transfer, occur at lower potential compared with the electrolysis of water. On the other hand, the products of oxidation of hydroquinone which accumulate in the system bring about an important decrease of the ζ potential of silica particles and progressive deceleration of their electrophoretic mobility. A detailed study was carried out, by using thin-layer isoperichoric focusing, UV–vis spectrophotometry, and voltamperometry, to explain the observed phenomena which can interfere in electric polarization or focusing field-flow fractionation.