Sedimentation equilibrium
Sedimentation equilibrium in a suspension of different particles, such as molecules, exists when the rate of transport of each material in any one direction due to sedimentation equals the rate of transport in the opposite direction due to diffusion. Sedimentation is due to an external force, such as gravity or centrifugal force in a centrifuge.
It was discovered for colloids by Jean Baptiste Perrin for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1926.[1]
Colloid
[edit]In a colloid, the colloidal particles are said to be in sedimentation equilibrium if the rate of sedimentation is equal to the rate of movement from Brownian motion. For dilute colloids, this is described using the Laplace-Perrin distribution law:
where
is the colloidal particle volume fraction as a function of vertical distance above reference point ,
is the colloidal particle volume fraction at reference point ,
is the buoyant mass of the colloidal particles,
is the standard acceleration due to gravity,
is the Boltzmann constant,
is the absolute temperature,
and is the sedimentation length.
The buoyant mass is calculated using
where is the difference in mass density between the colloidal particles and the suspension medium, and is the colloidal particle volume found using the volume of a sphere ( is the radius of the colloidal particle).
Sedimentation length
[edit]The Laplace-Perrin distribution law can be rearranged to give the sedimentation length . The sedimentation length describes the probability of finding a colloidal particle at a height above the point of reference . At the length above the reference point, the concentration of colloidal particles decreases by a factor of .
If the sedimentation length is much greater than the diameter of the colloidal particles (), the particles can diffuse a distance greater than this diameter, and the substance remains a suspension. However, if the sedimentation length is less than the diameter (), the particles can only diffuse by a much shorter length. They will sediment under the influence of gravity and settle to the bottom of the container. The substance can no longer be considered a colloidal suspension. It may become a colloidal suspension again if an action to undertaken to suspend the colloidal particles again, such as stirring the colloid.[2]
Example
[edit]The difference in mass density between the colloidal particles of mass density and the medium of suspension of mass density , and the diameter of the particles, have an influence on the value of . As an example, consider a colloidal suspension of polyethylene particles in water, and three different values for the diameter of the particles: 0.1
is the mass density of polyethylene, which is approximately on average 920 kg/m3 [3] and is the mass density of water, which is approximately 1000 kg/m3 at room temperature (293K).[4] Therefore is -80 kg/m3.
Diameter ( |
for polyethylene particles ( |
for silicon particles ( |
---|---|---|
0.01 | -9.84×106 | 5.92×105 |
0.1 | -9840 | 592 |
1 | -9.84 | 0.592 |
10 | -9.84×10−3 | 5.92×10−4 |
Generally, decreases with . For the 0.1
In this example, the difference is mass density is relatively small. Consider a colloid with particles much denser than polyethylene, for example silicon with a mass density of approximately 2330 kg/m3.[4] If these particles are suspended in water, will be 1330 kg/m3. will decrease as increases. For example, if the particles had a diameter of 10
Ultracentrifuge
[edit]Modern applications use the analytical ultracentrifuge. The theoretical basis for the measurements is developed from the Mason-Weaver equation. The advantage of using analytical sedimentation equilibrium analysis for Molecular Weight of proteins and their interacting mixtures is the avoidance of need for derivation of a frictional coefficient, otherwise required for interpretation of dynamic sedimentation.
Sedimentation equilibrium can be used to determine molecular mass. It forms the basis for an analytical ultracentrifugation method for measuring molecular masses, such as those of proteins, in solution.
References
[edit]- ^ "The Nobel Prize in Physics 1926". NobelPrize.org. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ^ Piazza, Roberto; Buzzaccaro, Stefano; Secchi, Eleonora (2012-06-27). "The unbearable heaviness of colloids: facts, surprises, and puzzles in sedimentation". Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter. 24 (28): 284109. Bibcode:2012JPCM...24B4109P. doi:10.1088/0953-8984/24/28/284109. ISSN 0953-8984. PMID 22738878. S2CID 23309333.
- ^ Batra, Kamal. "Role of Additives in Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) Films".
- ^ a b CRC handbook of chemistry and physics : a ready-reference book of chemical and physical data. William M. Haynes (95th ed.). Boca Raton, Florida. 2014. ISBN 978-1-4822-0867-2. OCLC 882266963.
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