PARTITIONING OF SPHERICAL-PARTICLES INTO FIBROUS MATRICES .1. DENSITY-FUNCTIONAL THEORY

The equilibrium partitioning of molecular or colloidal solutes between a bulk phase and the interstices of a fibrous matrix is studied in the case when the matrix is of low or moderate density. Geometrical concepts necessary to define a random-fiber model are presented. The concentration profile for hard-spherical particles around a single fiber immersed in a bulk phase is calculated by application of nonlocal density functional theory and by Monte Carlo simulation. The solute concentrations inside matrices of low and moderate fiber densities are calculated by superposition of the single-fiber concentration profiles. © 1990.