Acid base characterization of the polyeletrolytes and colloidal suspensions of occurrence in aquatic systems

Author(s)

Elizabete Campos de Lima

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 1999-03-11

Examining board members

Jorge Cesar Masini; Jaim Lichtig; Maria Olimpia de Oliveira Rezende

• Advisor: Jorge Cesar Masini

Abstract

Acid base properties of some polyeletrolytes and colloidal suspensions were studied to evaluate the suitability of discrete site distribution model to fit potentiometric data for determination and characterization of ionizable groups presents in these materials. The polyelectrolytes studied were: commercial humic acid from Aldrich, humic acid isolated from vermicompost, mixed species of microalgae Spirulina, alginic acid and polyacrylic acid of molar masses 2000 and 250000 g/mol. Potentiometric titrations were performed in different ionic media to evaluate the effect of eletrostatic interactions on the titration data. Titrations were perfomed at 25°C, and the data were treated bya linear method based on Modified Gran Functions, as well as by a multiparametric Non-Linear Regression method. The results obtained for the vermicompost humic acid and Spirulina were independent of the ionic strength, suggesting that the chemical heterogeneity plays the major role in the acid base properties of these materials. Thus, the discrete site distribution model is well suited to characterize these materials. For the other polyelectrolytes studied, the influence of eletrostatic interactions was noticed. The discrete site distribution model was able to determine the total stoichiometry of the ionizable groups, but the ionization constants and the distribution of site concentration were dependent on the ionic strength and molar mass of these polyelectrolyte. (AU)