Colloid and Surface Chemistry and Applications

PREFACE
The author has given an introductory course in Colloid and
Surface: Chemistry and Applications, which initially were
treated as special topics in Physical Chemistry, but
nowadays, due to their special importance in everyday
phenomena, have been constituted into a new field of study.
These topics are discussed under two sections. The first
treats Colloid Chemistry, (Chapters 1 – 4) while the second
deals with Surface Chemistry, (Chapters 5 — 7) and Chapter
8 discusses. the applications of these phenomena.
In the first case, the concept of colloidal systems, their
classification, preparation of sols and the general properties
of colloidal systems are given. In the second case the
surface chemistry is treated under the consequences of
interfaces/surfaces: surface tension and adsorption
processes. Forces operating at the interfaces and the
thermodynamic“description, of an interface are also given.
The concepts of surface tension and adsorption/desorption
are used in explaining the phenomena of detergency,
wetting of surfaces jformation of unimolecular surface film,
sizing of paper, emulsion and foam formation and breaking.
The textbook is recommended for students majoring in
Chemistry (Pure and Applied) and Chemical Engineering in
the first degree programmes in the university or the HND
programmes in Chemistry in the polytechnics. The book will
be found useful for industrialists in the pulp and paper
industry, paint, detergent, textile, food and pharmaceutical
industries. ‘
The author acknowledges with delight the works of Samuel
Glasstone, S. Voyutsky and Duncan_T. Shaw from which he
has drawn much insight into Colloid and Surface Chemistry.
Ukana D. Akpabfo
2007