Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

Uptake onto colloidal materials of toxic aqueous pollutants
such as heavy metals, anions, organics and polymers.
Industrial significance of adsorption and its implications in
waste water treatment. Practical aspects of adsorption
phenomena including experimental design. Adsorption of
simple electrolytes.
~ ~ 7 4 8 Water Treatment Technology
7.5 credit points
No. of hours per week: four hours for five weeks
Prerequisites: SC716 and SC717 (SC747 is
advised)
An elective subject in the Graduate Diploma and Masters (by
coursework) in Applied Colloid Science.
Subject description
Implications of colloidal chemistry in waste water treatment.
The role of adsorption phenomena in waste water
treatment. Biological and non-biological treatment
technologies. An overview of common and advanced
treatment technologies including alum flocculation,
biochemical treatment, cellular foam microbial degradation
and adsorbing colloid flotation. Emphasis will be placed on
those technologies using colloidal principles to separate
contaminant from clean water.
~ ~ 7 4 9 Rolymer Flocculation
7.5 credit points
No. of hours per week: four hours for five weeks
Prerequisites: SC716 and SC717 (SC747 and
SC752 are advised)
An elective subject in the Graduate Diploma and Masters (by
coursework) in Applied Colloid science.
Subject description
Types of flocculants - natural, synthetic and metal ions vs
polymers. Flocculants in solution and adsorption of polymers.
Bridging model, floc formation and floc structure. The role
of DLVO theory. Selective flocculation, sensitisation and
protective action. General principles of water treatment.
Flocculation of clays, pigments, etc. Analytical methods for
determining low concentration of flocculants. Effect of pH
on flocs and floc building.
sc750 Detergency
7.5 credit points
No. of hours per week: four hours for five weeks
Prerequisites: SC744 and SC717 (SC716 is
advised)
An elective subject in the Graduate Diploma and Masters (by
coursework) in Applied Colloid Science.
Subject description
Detergent action and the role of contact angle, adhesion,
cohesion, micellisation and emulsification. Methods of
analysis ranging from cloud point determination and twophase
titrations to infra-red and NMR analysis. Detergent
biodegradability.
Detergent formulation for specific needs, eg. softeners,
conditioners. Specific examples of interest, eg. removal of
lanolin from wool and the formulation of hair shampoos.
SC751 Emulsion Technology
7.5 credit points
No. of hours per week: four hours for five weeks
Prerequisites: SC744, SC716 and SC717
An elective subject in the Graduate Diploma and Masters (by
coursework) in Applied Colloid Science.
Subject description
Common methods for obtaining emulsions and their
subsequent use. Emulsion polymerisation and the properties
of polymer latices.
The theory of emulsion stability. Long range (DLVO) and
short range (Gibb's-Marangoni) stability. Surface chemical
factors and the application of the DLVO theory. Surface
elasticity and surface viscosity. The role of macromolecules as
emulsion stabilisers. Stabilisation by finely divided solids and
the properties of thin films (eg. rupture). Breakdown of
emulsions (thermodynamics). Applications to cosmetics, food,
bitumen, wax, etc.
SC752 Polymer Stabilisation Technology
7.5 credit points
No. of hours per week: four hours for five weeks
Prerequisite: SC716
An elective subject in the Graduate Diploma and Masters (by
coursework) in Applied Colloid Science.
Subject description
Equilibrium thermodynamics of solutions of large
macromolecules and configurational statistics of polymers.
Forces of steric repulsion. Volume restriction and mixing
models. Calculation of free energies. Steric stabilisation,
steric flocculation depletion stabilisation and depletion
flocculation. Orientation of adsorbed layers.
Experimental methods for measuring the thickness of an
adsorbed layer. Implications of the adsorbed layer in particle
stability. Design of copolymers and selection of various
structural components. Application to the dispersion of
pigments in various media and to polymer flocculation.
5C753 Thin Films and Foams
7.5 credit points
No. of hours per week: four hours for five weeks
Prerequisites: SC716, SC717 (SC744 and SC751
are advised)
An elective subject in the Graduate Diploma and Masters (by
coursework) in Applied Colloid Science.
Subject description
The properties, stability and rupture of foams. Disjoining
pressure, calculation of electrostatics, VOW and steric
components of disjoining pressure. Instability and rupture of
thin films (advanced).
Evidence pertaining to short range hydration and
hydrophobic forces, based on experimental studies and
statistical mechanical treatments of fluids at interfaces.
Application of flotation emulsions and the stability of froths
and foams.
sc754 Light Scattering and Concentrated
Dispersions
7.5 credit points
No. of hours per week: four hours for five weeks
Prerequisites: SC716 and SC717 (SC718 and
SC719 are advised)
An elective subject in the Graduate Diploma and Masters (by
coursework) in Applied Colloid Science.
Subject description
Radial distribution function (g(r))- relationship between g(r)
and S(Q) (Q is the scattering vector) - potential of mean
force and its link to g(r). Measurement of g(r) through the
scattering of radiation and its angular variation -
determination of S(Q) using theoretical models, link between
S(Q) and osmotic compressibility.