Effect of pH and impurities on the surface charge of zinc oxide in aqueous solution

The surface charge on some commercially available zinc oxide powders in aqueous solution has been studied. Aqueous suspensions of zinc oxide could not be stabilized electrostatically because of the decreasing pH of suspensions in the region between 7.2 and 12 as a result the transformation of colloidal Zn(OH)_2(S) particles to Zn(OH)_2(aq) ions. The major cationic impurity in the zinc oxide powders is lead, whereas in the aged suspensions of the same powders, zinc and sulphate ions dominate. These ions have the the most significant effect in creating an electrical double layer shell around the zinc oxide particles. The effect of these ions on the surface potential of zinc oxide was studied and the point of zero charge and charge reversal were found to be a direct function of the zinc and sulphate ions' concentration in the supernatant.