Agglomeration

Definition

The clumping of small particles into larger aggregates that settle faster, deposit more stubbornly, and resist filtration.

Without dispersion, particles agglomerate and become harder to capture and remove. Dispersants counter this by keeping particles small and mobile. Flocculation is also cited as a reason real settling deviates from Stokes’ Law predictions.

Related concepts

Dispersants · Stokes’ Law · Steric Repulsion

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🧪 chemistry