Course Objectives and Ground Rules - Gene and Linda Voiland ...

ChE 585
Colloid and Interfacial Phenomena
Spring, 2010
Washington State University
Voiland School of Chemical Engineering
and Bioengineering
Richard L. Zollars
Instructor: Richard L. Zollars, Dana 114
Text: An Introduction to Interfaces and Colloids: The Bridge to Nanoscience, John C.
Berg, World Scientific, ISBN: 978-981-4293-07-5 (2009).
Course Objectives: At the completion of this class you should be able to:
1) Describe the effect of surface forces (surface tension) on such phenomena as
capillary rise and vapor pressure
2) Determine what structures result in molecules that are attracted to the interfacial
regions. Be able to calculate their concentration and their effect of surface
tension.
3) Describe the association phenomena of surface-active materials such as
micellization and adsorption.
4) Describe the major forces between colloidal particles, both attractive and
repulsive. Be able to calculate the effect of these forces on
flocculation/coagulation processes.
5) Be able to use laboratory apparatus to measure colloidal properties including
surface tension, surface pressure vs. surface area relationships, particle size
distribution, zeta potential and viscosity.
Course Syllabus:
Introduction: basic terminology, description of size (molecular weight)
distribution (1 week)
Surface tension: capillary rise, equations of Kelvin, Young and LaPlace, contact
angle effects (2 weeks)
Surface active materials: thermodynamics of micellization, micellar structures
(1 week)
Adsorption from solution: spread monolayers, surface pressure, Langmuir trough
(2 weeks)

Electrokinetics: development of electrostatic surface charges, double layer
theories, effect on flocculation rates (2 weeks)
Electrokinetic phenomena: streaming potential, electrophoresis (3 weeks)
van der Waal forces (1 week)
Colloid stability: DLVO theory, coagulation phenomena (2 weeks)
Measurement techniques: light scattering methods, sedimentation
(centrifugation), electrophoresis, surface tension measurements, viscosity (a
various times throughout the semester)
Policies and Procedures:
1) There will be two hour exams and a final exam in this class. All exams will be
open book, open notes exams. Each exam will be given equal weight in
determining the course grade. The tests will be graded on a mastery basis – no
curving. Thus it will be possible for every one in the class to get an “A” or a “C”.
2) No make-up exams will be given except for legitimate medical excuses. All
make-ups will be covered by a single exam given near the end of the semester. If
you know ahead of time that you are going to be away for one of the exams (again
only for legitimate reasons such as interview trips) an exam period prior to the
normal exam period will be arranged.
3) All lab work in this class will be done in groups. Every person in the group will
be responsible for participation and understanding of the work being done.
Graduate students will assist in the operation of the equipment required during the
lab periods.
4) There will be a number of problems suggested as homework, but only a few of
these will be handed-in for credit. You may submit the others to check your work
at any time. Those problems that must be turned-in must be submitted at the
beginning of the class period they are due. No late assignments will be accepted.
Each lab assignment must have the names of all group members who participated
in the solution. By putting your name on any assignment you are verifying that
you have indeed been an active participant.
5) In some of the laboratory exercises data will be shared between groups. Thus
meeting deadlines on collecting data will be imperative. The lab reports will be
short with an emphasis on analysis of the data.
6) The grade for the course will be determined on the following basis: homework –
10%, laboratory reports – 30%, exams – 60%.