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Use of centrifugal photosedimentation to measure the particle size distribution of clays
Author(s) -
WHALLEY W. R.,
MULLINS C. E.,
LIVESEY N. T.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1993.tb00447.x
Subject(s) - light scattering , particle size distribution , scattering , particle size , range (aeronautics) , particle (ecology) , diffraction , sedimentation , physics , ellipsoid , optics , computational physics , statistical physics , mineralogy , materials science , chemistry , geology , sediment , composite material , paleontology , oceanography , astronomy
SUMMARY A procedure is developed which allows centrifugal photosedimentation to be used for analysing samples, such as clays, containing a broad range of particle sizes. The implicit assumptions that have to be made are discussed and the calculation of the particle size distribution from photosedimentation data is described. In particular, it is important to be certain that any light scattering theory, used to correct for the variation in light scattering with particle size, accurately represents the light scattering behaviour of clays. Appropriate theories of light scattering that can be used to correct photo sedimentation data for the variation in light scattering with particle size are identified. For kaolinite, over the size range 100 nm−1 μm, the anomalous diffraction theory for oblate ellipsoids was found to be a suitable theory for correcting photosedimentation data.