Zeta Potential Measurement of Micro Bubbles Generated by Electrolysis

전기분해(電氣分解)시 알루미늄 극판(極板)에서 발생(發生)한 미세기포(微細氣泡)의 제타전위(電位) 측정(測定)

Techniques such as dissolved air flotation and electroflotation, which utilize micro bubbles, are increasingly used for water and wastewater treatment. Most studies have concentrated on particle characteristics. Pretreatments that manipulate particle size and zeta potential were considered important. A recent study, which modeled the collision mechanism between micro bubbles and particles in dissolved air flotation, suggested bubble characteristics should also be important. Hydrogen micro bubbles were generated electrolytically and their zeta potentials measured under various conditions using a novel electrophoresis method. Effects of several parameters were investigated. Bubble zeta potentials were found to be pH dependent, and to have a negative value around neutral pH, becoming zero or positive at lower pH. The pH at zero zeta potential was 5.0 under study conditions. Using artificial solution and tap water, at fixed pH, bubble zeta potentials varied with solution composition. Zeta potentia]s of bubbles were affected by the types of cations and anions in solution but not by the voltage applied. These findings will help improve efficiencies of particle removal processes that utilize micro bubbles. As bubble zeta potential varies with solution composition, it needs to be measured for each composition to understand those effects, which increase removal efficiency.