Analytical and numerical models describing the electrokinetic response of charged colloidal particles in water; electrokinetic experiments (electrophoresis, dielectric spectroscopy, electroacoustic methods); From the measurements and models, information about the surface charge and coating of the suspended clay is obtained. The flocculation behavior of clays can be deduced.
Analytical and numerical models describing the transport of water and ions in clay pores; related streaming potential and electroosmosis experiments; From the experiments the permeability / leaching ability of the clay can be evaluated.
Electrically induced birefringence (Kerr effect) measurements and related models describing the orientation or distribution of nanoparticles in electric fields hereby acquiring information about their charge and size.
Numerical models simulating potentials and forces between interacting charged and coated surfaces; related experiments: atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic/static light scattering, titrations.
Clay flocculation and sediment bed properties (meso/macroscale)
Numerical models about the time evolution of particle size distributions (aggregation/break-up), Population Balance Equation.
Measuring the evolution of the floc size distribution in time and as function of the relevant parameters in the laboratory; link with the surface properties of the clay.
Rheology of clay slurries and link with the surface properties of the clay.
Analyzing the ions and water flows through clay layers by Seepage Induced Consolidation; in these macroscopic electroosmosis/streaming potentials experiments the compaction of the clay during the experiments play an important role and is representative of in-situ clay behavior.
