THE EFFECT OF ELECTOLYTES ON ALKALI SOLUBILITY OF WOOL

Abstract

1) The solubility of wool has been studied in 0.1N NaOH and 0.1N KOH at 56°C each containing NaCl, KCl, KBr, KI, KNO₃, NaNO₃, K₂SO₄, or Na₂SO₃,
The solvent power of electrolytes is stronger in its relatively lower concentration and maximum solubility almost depends on Hofineister's series. But when NaOH contains NaCl, Na₂SO₄, or NaNO₃ and KOH contains NaCl, KCl or Na₂SO₄, the solubility of wool is less than that in the absence of these electrolytes.
2) When ionic strength is below 1.8, the solubility of wool with alkali containing some electrolytes may be satisfactorily described in terms of the empirical equation;
where S is the solubility, S₀ the solubility in the absence of electrolytes and K₁, K₀ is constant.