Colloid analyzer

Apparatus for analyzing colloids comprising:

• a chamber for storing the colloid being analyzed, transducer means adapted to general a continuous acoustic wave signal at a predetermined frequency for acoustically exciting the colloid stored in the chamber, means for sensing the colloid vibration potential of said acoustically excited colloid in said chamber, and means responsive to said sensing means wherein said sensing means comprises antenna means and hydrophone means responsive to the acoustic excitation generated by said transducer means in said colloid, and said means responsive to said sensing means comprises means responsive to said antenna means, said hydrophone means and said transducer means to generate an output signal related to both the magnitude and polarity of the zeta potential of said acoustically excited colloid, and wherein said hydrophone means is coaxially mounted relative to said antenna means inside said chamber.

Apparatus for analyzing colloids comprising:

• a chamber for storing the colloid being analyzed, transducer means adapted to generate a continuous acoustic wave signal at a predetermined frequency for acoustically exciting the colloid stored in the chamber, means for sensing the colloid vibration potential of said acoustically excited colloid in said chamber, and means responsive to said sensing means for generating an output signal related to the zeta potential of said acoustically excited colloid wherein said sensing means comprises three spaced conductor rings supported in said chamber, and said means responsive to said sensing means comprises amplifier means, and wherein the output of said amplifier means is equal to
• G[e.sub.1 /2e.sub.2 -e.sub.3 /2]
• wherein, e.sub.1, e.sub.2 and e.sub.3 represent the colloid vibration potential sensed by each conductive ring respectively, and G is equal to the gain of the amplifier.

The method for analyzing a colloid comprising the steps of:

• propagating a continuous wave acoustic excitation signal of predetermined frequency in a colloid, sensing the colloid vibration potential of said acoustically excited colloid, and extracting an output signal from said colloid vibration potential related to the zeta potential of said acoustically excited colloid wherein said extracting step further comprises the steps of:
• comparing said output signal to the quadrature components of a reference signal related to said predetermined frequency to develop a first pair of sin and cos output signals, converting the pressure amplitude of said acoustic excitation signal into a signal electrical output signal, comparing said second electrical output signal to the quadrature components of said reference signal related to said predetermined frequency to develop a second pair of sin and cos output signals, and combining said first pair of sin and cos output signals with the said second pair of sin and cos output signals to develop output signal related to the magnitude and phase of the zeta potential of said excited colloid and to the magnitude of said pressure amplitude, respectively.