Formation of small silica aggregates by turbulent aggregation

Aggregation of silica powder in water has been experimentally studied by turbidimetry. Aggregation was carried out in a stirred tank under physicochemical conditions corresponding to attractive interparticle forces. The effects of different primary particle sizes and stirring rates on aggregation dynamics have been studied. The scattering cross sections of silica aggregates were calculated in the framework of the anomalous diffraction approximation of light scattering theory. Aggregation has been studied by using Kusters's and Brakalov's approaches. By comparison between experimental and theoretical turbidity changes with time it has been shown that aggregates are small and slightly porous. The aggregation process is characterized by a weak fractal dimension D-wf and an aggregate limit size L. D-wf is found in the range 2.4-2.5. D-wf (respectively L) is a weakly increasing (respectively decreasing) function of the stirring rate or of the shear rate. (C) 2001 Academic Press.