The Study of Gum Arabic as Surfactant on the Stability of Water-based Alumina Nanoparticle Suspensions

Abstract

The stability study of alumina nanoparticle suspensions has been investigated by using gum arabic as a surfactant. The effect of particle volume fraction of alumina nanoparticle and gum arabic concentration were observed. The stability of the suspension was characterized using zeta potential and particle size distribution analysis. Several volume fractions of alumina and gum arabic concentration were dispersed in water as a solvent for suspension stability. The result showed that the stability of water-based alumina nanoparticle suspensions was increase with the decreasing of particle volume fraction and increasing of gum arabic concentration. The particle size distribution was narrow with decreasing particle volume fraction and increasing gum arabic concentration. The hydrodynamic diameter of the particles was smaller with the increasing of gum arabic concentration. The smallest particle size recorded was 164.6 nm at 0.5% gum arabic concentration. Zeta potential values were increased with the increasing of gum arabic concentration. The highest zeta potential was recorded at -36.0 mV. It can be concluded that gum arabic can be used for stabilization of water-based alumina nanoparticle suspensions.