Dispersed systems. The methods of

preparing of colloidal solutions.

PhD Halina FalfushynskaPhD Halina Falfushynska

Dispersed Systems

A kinetically stable mixture of one phase in another largely immiscible phase. Usually at least one length scale is in the

colloidal range.

Dispersed Systems

Dispersed phase

Continuous phase

Interface

Molecular dispersions is a true solutions of a solute phase in a solvent. The dispersed phase (solute) is in form of separate molecules homogeneously distributed throughout the dispersion medium(solvent). The molecule size is less than 1 nm (4*10-8 inch). [The examples : air (a molecular mixture of Oxygen, Nitrogen and some other gases), electrolytes (aqueous solutions of salts)].

Classification of dispersed system in agreement with particles scale

Colloids are micro-heterogeneous dispersed systems, in which the size of the dispersed phase particles is within the range 1 - 1000 nm (4*10-8 - 4*10-5 inch). The colloids phases can not be separated under gravity, centrifugal or other forces. Dispersed phase of colloids may be separated from the dispersion medium by micro-filtration. The examples of colloids: milk (emulsion of fat and some other substances in water), fog (aerosol of water micro-droplets in air), opal (colloidal silica), Silica aerogel monolith, Alumina aerogel monolith].

Classification of dispersed system in agreement with particles scale

Coarse dispersions (suspensions) are heterogeneous dispersed systems, in which the dispersed phase particles are larger than 1000 nm (4*10-5“). Coarse dispersions are characterized by relatively fast sedimentation of the dispersed phase caused by gravity or other forces. Dispersed phase of coarse dispersions may be easily separated from the continuous phase by filtration.

Classification of dispersed system in agreement with particles scale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q96ljVMHYLo

Types of Emulsion

Oil-in-water emulsion Water-in-oil emulsion

Water

Oil

m

A fine dispersion of one liquid in a second, largely immiscible liquid. In foods the liquids are inevitably oil

and an aqueous solution.

Emulsions are an example of colloids composed of tiny particles suspended in another immiscible (unmixable) material.

Classification of Colloids Based on Type of Phase Interaction

• Lyophobic colloids consist of the phases, which do not interact between each other.Dispersed phase in lyophobic colloids is not solvated by the dispersion media.

• Lyophobic colloids are prepared by mechanical agitation, which is required because of high interfacial energy of the dispersed particles.

• Lyophobic colloids are thermodynamically unstable. Their dispersed particles have a tendency to aggregation or coalescence.Thermodynamic stability of lyophobic colloids may be increased by an addition of relatively small amount of surface active substances (surfacants) lowering the interfacial energy of the system.Some of lyophobic colloids possess lyophilic properties (eg. hydrosols of silica and alumina).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jZyqqN4uqc&feature=related

Classification of Colloids Based on Type of Particles of the Dispersed Phase

• Multimolecular colloids In this type of colloids the colloidal particles are aggregates of atoms or small molecules with molecular size less than one nanometer (1 nm). For e.g., gold sol consists of particles of various sizes which are clusters of several gold atoms. The molecules in the aggregates are held together by Van der Waal forces.

Classification of Colloids Based on Type of Particles of the Dispersed Phase

• Macromolecular colloids Macromolecular colloidal particles are formed when on dissolution in a suitable solvent, the macromolecules have sizes which are in the colloidal range. Naturally occurring macromolecules are starch, proteins and cellulose. Man made macromolecules are polymers such as polyethylene, nylon and polystyrene.

• Associated colloids (Micelles) Certain substances behave as strong electrolytes at low concentration but at higher concentrations these substances exhibit colloidal characteristics due to the formation of aggregated particles. These aggregated particles are called micelles. The formation of micelles takes place only above a particular temperature called Kraft Temperature (Tk) and above particular concentration called the Critical micelle concentration (CMC). On dilution, these colloids revert back to individual ions.

Classification of Colloids Based on Type of Particles of the Dispersed Phase

Interaction between colloid particles• The following forces play an important role in the interaction of colloid particles:• Electrostatic interaction: Colloidal particles often carry an electrical charge

and therefore attract or repel each other. The charge of both the continuous and the dispersed phase, as well as the mobility of the phases are factors affecting this interaction.

• van der Waals forces: This is due to interaction between two dipoles that are either permanent or induced. Even if the particles do not have a permanent dipole, fluctuations of the electron density gives rise to a temporary dipole in a particle. This temporary dipole induces a dipole in particles nearby. The temporary dipole and the induced dipoles are then attracted to each other. This is known as van der Waals force, and is always present (unless the refractive indexes of the dispersed and continuous phases are matched), is short-range, and is attractive.

Interaction between colloid particles

• Entropic forces: According to the second law of thermodynamics, a system progresses to a state in which entropy is maximized. This can result in effective forces even between hard spheres.

• Steric forces between polymer-covered surfaces or in solutions containing non-adsorbing polymer can modulate interparticle forces, producing an additional steric repulsive force (which is predominantly entropic in origin) or an attractive depletion force between them.

Preparation of Lyophilic Sols

• Since lyophilic sols are quite stable, they can be easily prepared by shaking the lyophilic substance with the dispersion medium.

• Examples are: Colloidal sols of gum, starch, gelatine and egg albumin.

Preparation of Lyophobic Sols• Lyophobic sols are prepared by two methods. They are:• 1) Condensation methods - In condensation methods

particles of atomic or molecular size are induced to combine to form aggregates of colloidal dimensions. To achieve this, chemical as well as physical methods are employed.

• 2) Dispersion methods. - In dispersion methods, colloidal particles are obtained by breaking large particles of a substance in the presence of a dispersion medium. Since the sols formed are unstable, they are stabilized by adding stabilizing agents.

Colloids preparationCondensation methods

• a) Chemical methods• Colloidal sols can be prepared by chemical

reactions, which involve double decomposition, oxidation, reduction and hydrolysis. Examples of sols made by these methods are given below:

• i) Double decomposition • ii) Oxidation • iii) Reduction • iv) Hydrolysis

b) Physical methods

Colloids preparation

Dispersion methods• a) Mechanical dispersion - In

mechanical dispersion, the coarse suspension of the substance is ground in a colloid mill, a ball mill or an ultrasonic disintegrator. The colloid mill consists of two metal discs, close together and rotating at high speed (7000 revolutions per minute) in opposite directions. By the process of such grinding, the suspension particles are torn off to the colloidal sizes.

b) Electrical disintegration or Bredig's Arc Method

• In this method, an electric arc is struck between electrodes of the metal immersed in the dispersion medium.

The intense heat produced by the arc vaporizes the metal, which then condenses to form particles of colloidal size. By this method, sols of metals such as gold, silver and platinum can be prepared.

In medicine, dialysis (from Greek "dialusis", meaning dissolution, "dia", meaning through, and "lysis", meaning loosening) is a process for removing waste and excess water from the blood.

Dialysis works on the principles of the diffusion of solutes and ultrafiltration of fluid across a semi-permeable membrane.

Dialysis