| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R54835/01 |
| Title: |
A NEW ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY METHOD FOR INVESTIGATING COAGULATION IN WATER TREATMENT PROCESSES |
| Principal Investigator: |
Kendall, Professor K |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Chemical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Birmingham |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 November 2001 |
Ends: |
31 July 2004 |
Value (£): |
111,661
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Complex fluids & soft solids |
Instrumentation Eng. & Dev. |
| Separation Processes |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Chemicals |
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The purpose of this project is to show that a new Atomic Force Microscopy technique can be used to investigate the coagulation of colloidal contaminants from water supplies. By studying the force/separation curve between a silica sphere and a silica surface in a controlled ionic solution, the stability and aggregation of the colloid can be assessed in a novel manner, especially in relation to the presence of coagulants like aluminium sulphate. Preliminary experiments have shown this concept to be feasible. Therefore we wish to explore in detail over a 2 year project the coagulation mechanisms operating in water treatment processes. The project wig start with very pure materials in a highly controlled environment using the new Nanoscope instrument recently obtained an Chemical Engineering at Birmingham. The dependence of the colloid stabilising forces on ionic species and concentration will be studied to evaluate the destabilising mechanisms. These results will be compared with zeta potential studies carried out on the Acoustosizer to pin down the precise nature of the ion exchange at the interface. The theoretical interpretation will be based on force calculations between a sphere and a plate with adsorption of ionic species from soution. New coagulation possibilities will then be tested in collaboration with Kemira, a major industry supplier in this field.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bham.ac.uk |