Electrokinetic potential of the alkane/aqueous electrolyte interface

Abstract

The electro-osmotic mobility of the aqueous electrolyte/alkane interface has been measured in KCl and AlCl3. Comparison of the interpreted ζ potentials with those previously reported from electrophoretic mobility measurements is made. The results indicate that the classical interpretation of the particle mobilities underestimates the retardation effect in these systems. This finding is consistent with the proposed mechanism of charging the surface via the preferential solubility of ions in the entropically different interfacial water.