Abstract
Interfacial electric phenomena in a suspension of soft particles (i.e., particles covered with an ion-penetrable polyelectrolyte layer) are discussed with special emphasis on soft particles in environmental science. Fundamental equations are given which describe the oscillatory motion of soft particles in an applied electric field and in an applied pressure gradient field. Soft particles are shown to serve as a model for humic substances. It is shown that colloid vibration potential will be a key quantity providing information on the electric properties of soft particles.
