The permeability of clay suspensions

The chemical engineering literature abounds with empirical and theoretical equations relating the sedimentation and fluidization velocities of a given solid—liquid system and its porosity. A geotechnical approach shows that for active clay particles the problem lies in the definition, and associated determination, of a coefficient of permeability of the system. A fluidization test is proposed to provide a direct permeability measurement of clay suspensions. The experimental results obtained on two clay mixtures indicate that the coefficient of permeability varies continuously over a wide range of porosities, encompassing soil conditions and suspended conditions, and that a two-constant power equation can be usefully employed to represent such variation. Les textes de genie chimique abondent en equations empiriques et theoriques qui experiment les vitesses de sedimentation et de fluidisation d'un systeme solide—liquide donne et sa porosite. Une approche geotechnique montre que, pour des particules actives ...