ADSORPTION OF FISH OIL AND POLY(VINYLBUTYRAL) ONTO ALUMINUM-OXIDE PARTICLES STUDIED BY LIGHT-SCATTERING

The effects of added poly(vinylbutyral) (PVB) and oxidized Menhaden fish oil (O-FO) on dilute suspensions of Al2O3 in the azeotropic solvent mixture 73/27 Wt.-% trichloroethylene/ethanol were studied by static (SLS) and dynamic light-scattering (DLS). The DLS correlation function consisted of four terms from: 1) interdiffusion of the two solvents, 2) diffusion of Al2O3, 3) diffusion of added O-FO and/or PVB, and 4) an induced velocity of particles through the scattering volume due to "laser pressure." The amplitude and relaxation time of all terms could be determined. Addition of PVB to the Al2O3 suspension resulted in an increase in particle size corresponding to the adsorption of a monolayer of coils. Addition of O-FO to the Al2O3 suspension did not produce a significant increase in particle size, indicating either no adsorption or a compact conformation of O-FO molecules on the Al2O3 surface.