Selected topics in colloid chemistry with especial reference to biochemical problems / by Ross Aiken Bortner.

  • Gortner, Ross Aiken, 1885-1942.
Date:
1937
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: Selected topics in colloid chemistry with especial reference to biochemical problems / by Ross Aiken Bortner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    advance of the chemical thought of his time. For fifty years after Graham’s death the phenomena of colloid chemistry were largely neglected as a separate field of study. In 1893, only two papers dealing with the properties of matter in the colloidal state appeared in all the world’s literature. One of these11 dealt with colloidal gels of lead tartarate, barium sulfate, and lead sulfate, the other12 with the behavior of colloidal sols at the critical temperature of the dispersions medium. Even ten years later in 1903 only 23 papers or patents dealing with colloids appear in the entire world chemical literature. Of these 23 titles, eight are either directly or indirectly associated with biochemical study. The names of W. B. Hardy, Jean Perrin, Wo. Pauli, G. Bredig, and Herbert Freundlich which appear this year bespeak the advent of a new era in the study of colloids. Pauli13 was initiating his studies of the interaction of proteins and electrolytes. Hardy14 showed that the electric charge on blood globulin was reversed in passing from an acid to an alkaline solution and that “radium rays” [a particles (?)] caused a coagulation of the electronegative sol and an increased fluidity with less opalescence in electropositive sols. Zacharias15 contended that textile fibers were colloids and regarded the dyeing process as an adsorption reaction. In a patent application he uses colloidal tin oxide in the tanning of hides. Bock16 suggests that since HCN destroys the ability of colloidal platinum to decompose hydrogen peroxide, perhaps enzyme re- actions may be analogous to the catalytic activity of colloidal metals. Garrett17 investigated the viscosity of some colloidal solutions in- cluding gelatin, albumin, and Si02 using both outflow and pendulum types of viscometers with temperature and concentration as vari- ables. He suggests that sols such as these consist of two phases, one colloid-rich, the other colloid-poor, and finds that at a given concen- tration temperature control alone is not sufficient to give reproducible viscometric values. Perrin’s18 paper is one dealing with the theory of colloidal sols in which he discusses electric charge, particle size, surface tension, 11 Schiff, H., Chem. Zlg., 17: 1000 (1893). 12 Schneider, E. A., Z. anorg. Chem., 3: 78 (1893). 13 Pauli, Wo., Beitr. chem. Physiol u. Path., 3: 225 (1903). 14 Hardy, W. B., Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc., Ill, 12: 201 (1903). 15 Zacharias, P. D., Z. Farb. u. Text. Chem., 2: 233 (1903). 16 Bock, F. Oster. Chem. Ztg., 6: 49 (1903). 17 Garrett, H., Phil. Mag., [6] 6: 374 (1903). 18 Perrin, 3., Compt. rend., 137: 564 (1903).