Colloid

Mohammad Farhadur Rahman

Lecturer
Department of Chemistry
Bangladesh University of Textiles
 

 
 Framework
Colloids
Classification of Colloids
Application of Colloids
Purification of Colloids
Preparation of Colloids
Properties of Colloids
Protective Action of Colloids
 Colloids
 Colloids are mixtures of a solvent and suspended
particles.
 Particles are too small to see but are larger than
molecules. Colloids have a particular size from 1 to
1000 nm.
 Due to their small size they do not settle out of
solution.
A colloid may be defined as a substance in a
peculiarly fine state of subdivision in dispersed in
another continuous medium giving rise to a large
increase in surface area of the dispersed phase.
Gaseous Medium
Fog Liquid dispersed in Gas = Aerosol

Smoke Solid in Gas = Aerosol

Liquid Medium
Cool whip Gas in Liq = foam

Milk Liquid in Liquid

= emulsion
Paint,Blood Solid in Liquid
Solid Medium = sol

Styrofoam Gas in Solid = foam

Jelly,Opals Liquid in Solid = Gel
Pearls, Solid in Solid = solid sol
Concrete
Different shapes of colloids
 Dispersed Systems
Dispersed systems consist of particulate matter
(dispersed phase), distributed throughout a continuous
phase (dispersion medium).
 The shape of colloidal particles in
dispersion is important
The more extended the particle
the greater its specific surface
the greater the attractive force between the particles of the
dispersed phase and the dispersion medium.

Specific surface: the surface area per unit weight or volume of

material.
The possession of large specific surface results in:
1- platinum is effective as catalyst only when found in colloidal form due to large surface
area which adsorb reactant on their surface.
2- The colour of colloidal dispersion is related to the size of the paticles
e.g. red gold sol takes a blue colour when the particles increase in size
 Types of colloids/Naming
Dispersing Dispersed
medium phase Name Example

Gas Liquid Aerosol Fog

Gas Solid Smoke

Liquid Gas Foam Whipped cream

Liquid Liquid Emulsion Milk, mayo
Liquid Solid Sol Paint, ink

Solid Gas Solid foam Marshmallow

Solid Liquid Butter
Solid Solid Pearls, opals
 Types of colloids/Comparison of
colloidal sols
Lyophilic Associated Lyophobic
Dispersed phase Dispersed phase Dispersed phase
(large organic (micelles of organic (Inorganic particles as
molecule With molecule Or ion –size gold)
colloidal size) below the colloidal
range)
Molec. of dispersed Hydrophilic and Not formed
phase are solvated lyophilic portion are spontaneously
Formed solvated ,
spontaneously Formed at conc. above
CMC
The viscosity ↑ with ↑ The viscosity ↑ with ↑ Not greatly increase
the dispersed phase the micelles conc.
conc.

Stable dispersion in CMC↓ with electrolytes Unstable dispersion in

presence of presence of
 Applications of colloids

A- Therapy: Colloidal system are used as therapeutic agents

in different areas.
e.g- Silver colloid-germicidal
Copper colloid-anticancer
Mercury colloid-Antisyphilis

B- Stability: lyophobic colloids prevent flocculation in

suspensions.
Colloidal dispersion of gelatin is used in coating over
tablets and granules which upon drying leaves a uniform
dry film over them and protect them from adverse
conditions of the atmosphere.
 Applications of colloids

C- Absorption:
As colloidal dimensions are small enough, they have a huge
surface area. Hence, the drug constituted colloidal form is
released in large amount.
e.g- sulphur colloid gives a large quantity of sulphur and this
often leads to sulphur toxicity
D-Targeted Drug Delivery:
Liposomes are of colloidal dimensions and are
preferentially taken up by the liver and spleen.
 Applications of colloids

E- Photography:
A colloidal solution of silver bromide in gelatine is applied on
glass plates or celluloid films to form sensitive plates in
photography.

F- Clotting of blood:
- Blood is a colloidal solution and is negatively charged.
- On applying a solution of Fecl3 bleeding stops and blood
clotting occurs as Fe+3 ions neutralize the ion charges on the
colloidal particles.
 Applications of colloids

G- Cosmetics: The entire family of cosmetics is colloids

of different types and finds a variety of use.
H- Garments: The garments we wear to protect ourselves
are made of colloids, whether it is made of cotton or
Dacron, wool or nylon, rayon or silk.
I-Corrosion: The paints and varnishes that decorate a
multitude of things and protect materials against corrosion
are colloids.
 Applications of colloids

J- The paper we write on, the ink we write with, the

ink we print with, are only a few of many colloids
we use every day.
K- Around us we have our atmosphere, which is an
aerosol, below us we have soil and clay which are
also colloids.
L- Digestion of most food we take are enzymes,
again a colloids.
Thus we ourselves are colloids, we live on colloids.
Pharmaceutical application of colloids

M- Protein binding Drugs are bound to plasma proteins

forming complexes or products that reliberate the drugs at
different rates. Positively changed drugs and negatively
charged drugs and negatively charged are bound by
different mechanisms. This can be tested by examining
binding effect of γ globulins to drugs at certain pH
(depending on the nature on the nature of drug). Then drug
is separated by dialysis to estimate the extent of drug-
protein binding.
 Preparation of Colloids
Two Types

Condensation / Dispersion /
Association method Disintegration method

Hydrolysis
Electrical
Reduction
Mechanical
Oxidation

Double decomposition
Preparation of Colloids: Dispersion Method
(Bridge‘s Arc Method)
- This method is employed for obtaining
colloidal solutions of metals e.g. silver, gold,
platinum

ice
Dispersion medium
(Water + KOH)
 Bridge‘s Arc method

* An electric current is struck between two metallic electrodes

placed in a container of water. The water is kept cold by
immersing the container in ice / water bath and a trace of alkali
(KOH) is added.
* The intense heat of the arc / spark converts the metal into
vapours which condensed immediately in the cold water bath.
Thus the atoms of the metal present in the vapour aggregate to
form colloidal particles in water. Since the metal has been
ultimately converted into sol particles (via metal vapour), this
method has been treated as of dispersion.
* Non-metal sols can be made by suspending coarse particles of
the substance in the dispersion medium and striking an arc
between iron electrodes.
 Preparation of Colloids: Association
method
Oxidation (Sulphur Sol):
- Sulphur sol is prepared by oxidation of H2S in solution. The
oxidation can be carried out either by oxygen of the air or by a
solution of SO2.
- There is no need to dialysis since no electrolytes are formed.
- Sulphur sol can also be prepared by the action of strong acid
like H2SO4 to a concentrated solution of sodium thiosulphate.

- SO2 + H2S S + 2 H 2O

- HNO3 + H2S H2O + NO2 + S

 Preparation of Colloids: Association
method
Double Decomposition (Arsenious Sulphide Sol):
- A saturated solution of pure arsenious oxide is made in clean water by
boiling in a clean flask.
- The solution is cooled to about 500C and undissolved oxide is removed by
filtration and it is diluted to about three times its volume with clean water.
- Purified H2S is slowly passed through the clear solution. The H2S reacts to
form arsenious sulphide. The solution becomes yellow and almost all the
arsenious sulphide remains in the colloidal state.
- If the precipitation is formed it should be removed by filtration through
sintered crucible or glass wool and not through filter paper.
- Purified H2 or CO2 or N2 is now slowly bubbled through the sol till the
excess H2S is removed. A clear, quite stable sol of arsenious sulphide can
thus prepared.
- As2O3 + 3 H2S As2S3 + 3 H2O
 Preparation of Colloids: Association
method
Reduction (Gold Sol):
- About 10-15 mg of gold chloride is dissolved in about 100 ml
of clean water. To this added about 30-40 mg of K2CO3.
- A dilute ethereal solution of phosphorous is made and about
0.5 ml of it is mixed with the gold chloride solution (AuCl3).
A bright red gold sol is then produced by the reduction of the
chloride.
- AuCl3 + K2CO3 + Ethereal soln of Phosphorous Au Sol
- A Silver sol can be prepared by treating dilute solution of
AgNO3 with organic reducing agents like tannic acid or
ethanal (HCHO).
- AgNO3 + Tannic acid Ag Sol
Purification of colloidal solutions

When a colloidal solution is prepared is often

contains certain electrolytes which tend to
destabilize it. The following methods are used for
purification:

* Dialysis
* Electrodialysis
* Ultrafiltration
 Dialysis
The process of dialysis is based on the
fact that colloidal particles cannot pass
through parchment or cellophane
membrane while the ions of the
electrolyte can.
The colloidal solution is taken in a bag
of cellophane which is suspended in a
tub full of fresh water. The ion diffuse
through the membrane.
By using a continuous flow of fresh
water, the concentration of the
electrolyte outside the membrane tends
to be zero.
 Dialysis
Thus diffusion of the ions into pure water remains brisk all
the time. The impurities diffuse out leaving pure colloidal
solution in the bag. This process of separating the particles
of colloids from impurities by means of diffusion through a
suitable membrane is called dialysis.
A Fe(OH)3 sol (red) made by the hydrolysis of FeCl3 will
be mixed with some HCl acid. If the impure sol is placed in
the dialysis bag of some time, the outside water will give a
white precipitation with AgNO3. After a pretty long time, it
will be found that almost the whole HCl has been removed
and the pure red sol is left in the dialyser bag.
The most important use of dialysis is the purification of
blood in artificial kidney machines.
 Electrodialysis

The dialysis process is slow

and to speed up its rate, it is
carried out in the presence of
an electrical field.
When the electric field is
applied through the electrodes,
the ions of the electrolyte
present as impurity diffuse
towards oppositely charged
electrodes at a fast rate. The
dialysis carried out in the
presence of electric field is
known as electrodialysis.
 Ultrafiltration
Sols pass through an ordinary filter paper. Its pores are to retain the
colloidal particles. However, if the filter paper is impregnated with
collodion or a regenerated cellulose such as cellophane or visking,
the pore size is much reduced. Such a modified filter paper is
called ultrafilter.
The separation of the sol particles from the liquid medium and
electrolytes by filtration through an ultrafilter is called
ultrafiltration.
Ultrafiltration is a slow process. Gas pressure has to be applied to
speed it up. The colloidal particles are left on the ultrafilter in the
form of slime. The slime may be stirred into fresh medium to get
back the pure sol.
By passing graded ultrafilters, the technique of ultrafiltration can
be employed to separate sol particles of different size.
 Removal of Colloidal Particles
Colloid particles are too small to be
separated by physical means (e.g.
filtration).
Colloid particles are coagulated
(enlarged) until they can be removed
by filtration.
Methods of coagulation:
heating (colloid particles move and
are attracted to each other when they
collide);
adding an electrolyte (neutralize the
surface charges on the colloid
particles).
Dialysis: using a semipermeable
membranes separate ions from
colloidal particles.
 Properties of Colloids

Kinetic properties of colloid

Optical properties of colloid

Colligative properties

Shape of colloidal particles

Electrical properties: Electro kinetic Phenomenon

Color
 Kinetic Properties of Colloids
Brownian motion

- The zigzag movement of colloidal

particles continuously and randomly.

This Brownian motion arises due to

the uneven distribution of the
collisions between colloid particle
and the solvent molecules.

- Brownian movement was more

rapid for smaller particles.

- It decrease with increase the

viscosity of the medium.
 Kinetic Properties of Colloids
Viscosity

- It is the resistance to flow of system under an applied stress.

The more viscous a liquid, the greater the applied force
required to make it flow at a particular rate.

- The viscosity of colloidal dispersion is affected by the shape of

particles of the disperse phase:
Spherocolloids dispersions of low viscosity
Linear particles more viscous dispersions
 Optical Properties of Colloids
Faraday-Tyndall effect

– when a strong beam of light is

passed through a colloidal sol,
the path of light is illuminated
(a visible cone formed).

- This phenomenon resulting from

the scattering of light by the
colloidal particles.
 Optical Properties of Colloids
Faraday-Tyndall effect

The same effect is noticed when a beam of sunlight enters a

dark room through a slit when the beam of light becomes
visible through the room.

This happens due to the scattering of light by particles of

dust in the air.
 Optical Properties of Colloids
Role of Tyndall Effect

- Used to give information about particle size and shape and for
determination of molecular weight of colloids.
- Used to study proteins, association colloids and lyophobic sols.
- Electron microscope work on the principle of tyndall effect.
- Scattering described in terms of turbidity, T

- Turbidity: the fractional decrease in intensity due to scattering

as the incident light passes through 1 cm of solution.

- Turbidity is proportional to the molecular weight of lyophilic

colloid
 Electrical Properties Of Colloids

The particles of a colloidal solution are electrically charged

and carry the same type of charge, either negative or positive.

The colloidal particles therefore repel each other and do not

cluster together to settle down.

The charge on colloidal particles arises because of the

dissociation of the molecular electrolyte on the surface.
 Electrical Properties Of Colloids

Fe(OH)3 is positively charged

Due to self dissociation and loss of OH-
to the medium,so they become
[Fe(OH)3] Fe+3

* As2S3 has a negative charge

During preparation of colloidal As2S3 ,
H2S is absorbed on the surface and
dissociate to H+ (lost to the medium)
and S-2 remain on the surface of
.colloid
 Electrokinetic Phenomena

• Electrophoresis - Movement of particle in a stationary fluid

by an applied electric field.
• Electro-osmosis - Movement of liquid past a surface by an
applied electric field
• Streaming Potential - Creation of an electric field as a
liquid moves past a stationary charged surface
• Sedimentation Potential - Creation of an electric field when
a charged particle moves relative to stationary fluid
 Electrophoresis

Electrophoresis is the most known electro kinetic phenomena.

It refers to the motion of charged particles related to the fluid
under the influence of an applied electric field.
If an electric potential is applied to a colloid (hydrophobic sol
or protein solution), the charged colloidal particles move
toward the oppositely charged electrode (anode or cathode)
depending on the nature of colloids (sols).
 Electro-osmosis

It is the opposite in principal to that of electrophoresis.

If a potential difference is applied to the electrodes dipping

into an electrolyte solution on opposite sides of a porous
diaphragm or capillary tube, a flow of solution takes place
from one side to another, this is known as electro-osmosis.
Electro-osmosis
 Streaming Potential

If a liquid is forced on electrolyte solution through

a membrane by the application of pressure an
e.m.f. is found to develop, this e.m.f. is called
streaming potential.
 Sedimentation Potential Or
Donnan effect 0r Dorn effect

It is the potential induced by the fall of a charged particle

under an external force field.

It is analogous to electrophoresis in the sense that a local

electric field is induced as a result of its motion.

If a colloidal suspension is produced in sedimentation or

centrifugation, then a macroscopic electric field is generated
by the charge imbalance appearing at the top and bottom of
the sample column (i.e. colloidal suspension is allowed to
sediment). Then a potential difference is developed which is
known as sedimentation potential.
Sedimentation Potential
 Electrical Double Layers

The concept of electrical double layer arises from the

questions of the origin of the electrical charge on
colloidal particles as evidence by the electro kinetic
phenomena.
The colloidal particles will adsorbed positive or
negative ions will depend on the nature of surface of
the particles and sometimes on the concentration of
the electrolytes.
Let us consider a colloidal particle carrying a positive
charge. A layer of positive ions from the electrolyte
will be present in the vicinity of the surface negative
charges (Counter ions or gegen ions).
 Electrical Double Layers

The concentration of the negative charges

gradually decreases as the distance from the
surface increases.
The layer of positive charges on the particle and
the negative charges in the suspension medium
constitute what is known as an electrical double
layer.
Helmholtz (100+ years ago) proposed that surface
charge is balanced by a layer of oppositely
charged ions
 ZETA POTENTIAL

The potential difference between the surface layer

and the solution is known as electro kinetic
potential or zeta potential.
The magnitude of this potential depends not only
on the nature and extent of adsorption but also on
the distance from the surface of the particle.
The zeta potential may be modified by the
changing the nature and concentration of the
electrolyte.
 ZETA POTENTIAL

Point of Zero Charge (PZC) - pH at which surface potential = 0

Isoelectric Point (IEP) - pH at which zeta potential = 0
Question: What will happen to a mixed suspension of Alumina
and Si3N4 particles in water at pH 4, 7 and 9?
 Stability of colloids:
Protective Colloidal Action
 Coacervation & Coagulation
* Coacervation:
The process of mixing negatively and positively charged
hydrophilic colloids, and hence the particles separate from
the dispersion to form a layer rich in the colloidal aggregates
(coacervate)
* Coagulation:
This is a process of joining colloid particles to form
neutralization of the charges of colloid particles to form
larger size particles with separation of solid phase.
 Protective colloidal action

The presence and magnitude, or absence of a charge on

a colloidal particle is an important factor in the stability
of colloids.
Two main mechanisms for colloid stabilization:
1-Steric stabilization i.e. surrounding each particle with a
protective solvent sheath which prevent adherence due
to Brownian movement
2-electrostatic stabilization i.e. providing the particles with
electric charge
Protective colloidal action
 Sensitization and Flocculants

Sensitization:
The addition of small amount of hydrophilic or
hydrophobic colloid to a hydrophobic colloid of opposite
charge tend to sensitize (coagulate) the particles.
Polymer flocculants can bridge individual colloidal
particles by attractive electrostatic interactions.
For example, negatively-charged colloidal silica particles
can be flocculated by the addition of a positively-charged
polymer.
 Protective colloidal action

Addition of large amount of hydrophilic colloid

(protective colloid) to a hydrophobic colloid tend to
stabilize the system.
This may be due to:
The hydrophilic is adsorbed as a monomolecular layer
on the hydrophobic particles.
 Examples…
In the precipitation of ice cream, gelatin is added
to act as a protecting agent to the colloidal particle
of ice.
Gelatin is added to a gold sol to prevent
precipitation of that hydrophobic sol.
Argyrols, used in eye drops, is a sol of silver
protected by organic material.
 Gold Number
The Number of milligram of hydrophilic colloid that
will just prevent the precipitation of 10 ml of a gold
sol on the addition of 1 ml of 10 percent solution of
sodium chloride solution.
The smaller the gold number of a hydrophilic colloid
the greater it’s protective number.
Lyophilic Colloid Gold Number

Gelatin .005-.01
Egg Albumen .08-.10
Gum Arabic .1-.15
Potato Starch 25
 Solutions vs Colloids
Solution:
Solute particles are of ionic or molecular size
Transparent to ordinary light
Stable unless solvent evaporated
May pass through dialytic, but not true osmotic,
membranes
Colloids:
Typically 1000 nm or more per particle
Not totally transparent – Tyndall Effect
May separate out
Particles too large to pass through most membranes
Solutions vs Colloids

The Tyndall Effect

True Colloidal
Solution Mixture
 Suspensions

 Relatively large particles

 Heterogeneous mixtures
 Settle out
 Can be filtered
 Must stir to stay suspended
Examples:
 Blood platelets
 Muddy water
 Calamine lotion
 Solutions Colloidal Dispersions Suspensions

Particles of at least
Particles of at least one one component
All particles are on may be individually
component are large
the order of atoms, seen with a low-
clusters of atoms, ions,
ions, or small power microscope
or small molecules, or
molecules (0.1-1 nm) (over 1000 nm)
are very large ions or
molecules (1-1000 nm)

Most stable to gravity Less stable to gravity Unstable to gravity

Also homogeneous, but Homogeneous only

Most homogeneous borderline if well stirred
 Solutions Colloidal Dispersions Suspensions

No Tyndall effect Tyndall effect Not applicable

(suspensions cannot
be transparent)

Particles
No Brownian separate unless
movement system is stirred
Brownian movement

Cannot be separated Can be

by filtration separated by
Cannot be separated by filtration
filtration
THANKS TO ALL