Effect of electrolyte type on the electrokinetic behavior of sulfonated polystyrene model colloids

Abstract

Sulfonated polystyrene latex particles were prepared by a two-stage “shot-growth” emulsion polymerization process in the absence of emulsifier. Sodium styrene sulfonate (NaSS) was used as an ionic co-monomer to produce a series of latex particles with the same particle size but with different surface charge densities. The electrophoretic mobility of this functionalized model colloid was studied in the presence of various types of inorganic electrolytes. The μe curves of these latexes exhibit a pronounced maximum at high electrolyte concentrations: 5·10−2 M for 1∶1 electrolytes and 10−2 M for 2∶1 and 1∶2 electrolytes. When a 3∶1 electrolyte (LaCl3) was used, the electrophoretic mobility changed to positive values at high concentration due to the specific adsorption of lanthanum species. The experimental results for the electrokinetic characterization of these sulfonated polystyrene model colloids suggest that the surface of the particles is covered by a layer of oligomers or polymer chains which shift the shear plane toward the bulk solution, increasing the anomalous surface conductance of the polystyrene microsphere-electrolyte solution interface.