Iso-electric point of fluid

Abstract

Iso-electric point(IEP) is the PH, at which the $ζ$ potential is measured to be zero. The occurrence of IEP has been understood due to the neutralization of surface charge density (SCD) at the solid-liquid interface. In this work, we use the potential trap model to study the sources of the surface charge density at verious PC and PH, by taking the water-silica system as an example. It is revealed that in the case of $PH<8$, the SCD is mainly originated from the dissociation of water molecules. And the bulk ions trapped at the interface can dominate the SCD when $PH>9$. Due to the mass action law, the dissociation of water molecules is suppressed at the PH close to IEP, leading to a zero surface charge density. In this way, zero $ζ$ potential is obtained at the IEP. It has also been obtained that the increase of the salt concentration in the water can decrease the $ζ$ potential, but increase the surface charge density.

6 pages,3 figures