mathematics-09-03089-v2.pdf

and mass content of titanium dioxide in the suspension was assessed. More than a thousand

force affects the zeta potential depending on the pH; in the vicinity of the isoelectric point, its effect is

negligible. The effect of the mass content of titanium dioxide in the suspension is absolutely minor.

Keywords: artificial neural network; prediction; zeta potential; titania nanoparticles

1. Introduction

desired suspensions, which can reduce the time in the preparation of test substances and

can also serve to predict the long-term stability of solutions. Zeta potential measurement

is one of the simplest and most direct methods for characterizing the surface of charged

colloidal systems. Knowledge of the value of the zeta potential, but also knowledge of

the parameters that affect it, allows us to purposefully influence the stability of colloidal

systems. This is crucial in many fields, such as

more. Zeta potential is measured indirectly; in most cases, electrophoretic mobility is

measured. The electrokinetic potential is affected by a number of quantities. The most

important of these is the surface charge [

as sonication [

requires precise knowledge of all ambient conditions and can be quite time-consuming.

For this reason, ways are being sought to at least partially replace the experiment with

mathematical modelling.

decades [

to predict stability [

density [

Other modelling methods, Monte Carlo [

regression analysis [34,38], molecular simulations [12], and others [39] are used to predict

sions in which nanoparticles are present. In many areas, it is desirable to avoid agglom-

eration and to keep the dispersion stable. There are also fields in which, on the contrary,

coagulation brings benefits, such as water purification or water treatment. It is the zeta

of the solution, but also the influence of other parameters, is the subject of a number of

studies [16,36,40–42].

under different conditions, the influence of pH, temperature, solid phase concentration

and ionic strength was monitored. The obtained data were subsequently used for the

construction and testing of neural networks. Experimental conditions are described in

detail in both sections.

2.1. Materials

surface area was 58 m

60

concentrations: 1 mol L

measurements was therefore: 11

is electric strength (V cm