Electrostatic interaction between a charge-regulated particle and a solid surface in electrolyte solution: effect of cationic electrolytes

Abstract

The effect of cations on the electrostatic interaction between a negative charge-regulated particle and a solid surface of constant negative potential in electrolyte solution is analyzed. Here, we assume that the rate of approach of a particle to a solid surface is faster than that of the dissociation of the ionogenic groups on the surface of particle. In other words, the effect of the time-dependent dissociation of ionogenic groups on the surface of a particle is taken into account. The result of the present study reveals that, although the solid surface is negatively charged, the presence of cations in the suspension medium has a negative effect on the rate of adhesion. The qualitative behaviors in the variation of the interaction force between a particle and a solid surface as a function of separation distance between them predicted by a kinetic model and the corresponding equilibrium model and constant charge density model are entirely different. The rate of approach of a particle to a solid surface is on the order (constant charge density model)>(kinetic model)>(equilibrium model).