Chapter 4
M: ion species (cation or anion).
z,: valency of ion species.
Simplified Gouy-Stern-Grahame model established the relationship between
zeta potential and surface charge. To study the effects of pH and adsorption of
counter ions, site-binding model of oxide/ water interface is widely used [18]'[23].
Surface charge of kaolinite can be explained by proton donor-acceptor reactions
occurring simultaneously on alumina or silica sites of kaolinite t2°l, as expressed in
Eqns. [4.8] and [4.9].
-AlOH2 -AlOH +H+, -AlOH -AlO +H+ [4 8]
-SiOH2 -SiOH +H+, -SiOH ≠= -SiO + H+ [4 9]
To apply the site-binding model the following assumptions are made:
1 ) The surface of kaolinite has amphoteric silica and alumina sites, which are
pH-dependent. H+ and 0H^ will react with such surface sites. Permanent
negatively charged sites -B^ are inert sites, which are independent of pH.
2) The indifferent ions, such as Na+and CΓ, will not specifically adsorb in the
compact layer.
3) The specifically adsorbed ions, such as Ca2+, Mg2+ and HSiO3^, will adsorb
in the compact layer.
For counter ion adsorption, we consider kaolinite surface containing
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