Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Charges of solid surfaces in an aqueous fluid play a critical role in many different scientific and engineering disciplines, ranging from life sciences to environmental protection, waste treatment, food processing and materials engineering. The accurate measurement of surface charge is therefore of great scientific and technical importance. Although surface charge of small particles can be measured accurately by a number of instruments available in our laboratory, the measurement of surface charge for coarse particles or flat surfaces requires a very different instrument, known as streaming potential analyzer. This proposal is to request for a streaming potential analyzer (SurPASS) with necessary accessories by Anton Paar Canada. The SurPASS with different measuring cells provides an accurate and reliable means to measure surface charge characteristics of macroscopic solid particles and flat surfaces using streaming potential principle. The SurPASS requested here will be used by graduate students and researchers to: 1) study mechanism of selective adsorption of polymers in oil sands processing; 2) determine zeta potential of specially fabricated organic-tolerant membranes; and 3) investigate deposition mechanisms of bitumen components on solids or at oil-water interfaces. Research in these directions will provide definitive solutions based on fundamental understanding of these core problems so critical to the Canadian Energy and Mineral sectors. The success of the projects outlined in this proposal will have a significant socioeconomic impact on Canadian natural resource industry at a time of increasing global demand, and place us among the world's best facilities in colloidal and interfacial sciences. Moreover, a number of talented researchers will be trained in unique skills by this instrument, skills currently in short supply to serve our industrial society.