Characterization of flocs in coarse suspensions in a non-polar medium

Abstract

The flocculation of coarse suspensions of NaCl in liquid paraffin was studied. Floc characteristics such as size, porosity and number of primary particles were investigated for suspensions of NaCl in liquid paraffin by application of the Koglin concept. The dispersed NaCl had a narrow size distribution. Variables under investigation were particle size (mean volume diameter 6.5, 8.1 and 16.2 μm) and solid concentration (0–2% m/m). The results showed that the floc size and floc porosity increased with NaCl concentration up to 2% (m/m). No relationship was found between floc porosity and sediment porosity. For suspensions with small particles and a solid concentration above 3%, a structuring of flocs with high porosity hindered the settling of the flocs.