Viscometric studies on the aqueous suspensions of clay-protein complexes

Abstract

The viscosity variations of aqueous suspensions of certain homoionic forms of bentonite were measured following adsorption of different kinds and quantities of proteins. Dissymmetry and interaction of the clay-organic complexes were then calculated from the Schulz-Blaschke equation. A positive and almost linear relation was observed between the dissymmetry of H- and Al-bentonite and the amount of protein adsorbed. H-bentonite displayed greater dissymmetry and it is inferred that edge-to-edge and edge-to-face linkage of clay particles takes place. Maximum dissymmetry of H-bentonite-protein complexes was found at isoelectric pH of the proteins. Mg-bentonite however behaves differently.