Electrokinetic studies of modified cellulosic fibres

The electrokinetic phenomenon is the one involving electricity connected with tangential movement of two phases along with each other. The present paper deals with changes in the electrokinetic properties of cotton fibres with varying degrees of purification and modification of the cellulose with dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea (DMDHEU) and DMDHEU–triethanol amine hydrochloride (TEA). The electrokinetic properties such as zeta potential, surface charge density and surface conductivity were determined in the presence of direct dyes in the streaming the solution. The paper also discusses the behaviour of cotton cellulose with respect to extent of purification and modification of cellulose and dye uptake in the light of electrokinetic properties.