Stability of kaolinite dispersions in the presence of sodium and aluminum ions

The stability of colloidal kaolinite dispersions in the presence of NaCl and AlCl3 was studied by measuring turbidity, electrophoretic mobility and adsorption. The kaolinite particles coagulated at pH 2.5–3.5 and were dispersed at pH >4.5. These results well obeyed the classic DLVO theory if the mean zeta potential of the kaolinite particles in aqueous solutions was taken into account in the computation of potential energy of electrical double layer repulsion, which suggests that the kaolinite particles might coagulate in the same way as normal colloidal particles. The kaolinite particles in aqueous aluminum salt solution only coagulated at a medium AlCl3 concentration, and formed a stable dispersion at a high salt concentration. This is caused by Stern-layer adsorption of hydrolyzed aluminum species, probably adsorbed on the kaolinite surfaces through hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl groups of the aluminum species and the oxygen atoms on the kaolinite surfaces.