Turbulent aggregation of titania in water

International audienceThis paper deals with the application of two in situ particle sizing methods to the study of aggregation of titanium dioxide in turbulent aqueous solutions. Turbidity measurements are used to characterize aggregation of diluted suspensions (solid volume fraction less than 10(-4)). Analysis of backscattered light can be applied to highly concentrated suspensions. Because in situ measurements are possible, the aggregation process can be followed from its beginning to the final steady state which is always observed. The influences of stirring rate and solid volume fraction on the aggregation dynamics are presented. They are interpreted in the framework of a model of aggregation which takes into account the morphology and the related optical properties of the aggregates and the physical and hydrodynamic interactions between aggregates. The complex relationship between aggregate restructuring and aggregation on one hand, and fragmentation on the other hand, is considered