Colloidal systems in our life

Colloidal systems are those systems in which one substance is in the other in the form of fine particles. Often they are also called colloid-dispersed, since the formation of these systems is a chemical process of condensation and dissolution of one substance in another, in which the particles of the dissolved substance are in a constant (Brownian) motion. A vivid example of colloid-dispersion systems can serve as emulsions, suspensions, foams and various bulk materials.

Colloidal systems for humans play an important role. In fact, the human body is one common colloid-dispersion system. Because in the body almost all substances are dissolved one in the other and are in constant motion. The main biological colloidal systems of the body are blood and a cell. The cell consists of a nucleus, a ribosome, a lysosome, a Golgi complex, an EPR substance, a cell that integrates the cell, hyaloplasm and membranes.

The nucleus is a colloidal medium that is responsible for protein biosynthesis and DNA stability. In the membrane, colloidal substances are responsible for the elasticity of the membrane and carry out a protective function. Hyaloplasma is a complex compound of colloids, in a cell they participate in biochemical processes, since they can independently switch from one substance to another.

Blood is also an example of body tissue, where the basis is a colloid-dispersion system. Elements of blood, which include erythrocytes, platelets and leukocytes, are colloids, and blood plasma is a dispersion medium. In a plasma, all organic matter can be called colloidal. The basis of the plasma is water, it creates a dispersed environment in which the organic components of the plasma are located: large protein molecules, amino acid molecules, mono- and polysaccharides, and many others.

Colloidal systems play an important role not only in the vital activity of the human body. They have great practical importance. Based on the study of colloid-dispersed processes, new materials have been created, many chemical processes have been invented, which are actively used in production, as well as for water purification (including wastewater).

The use of a biological water purification system is becoming increasingly important, as the reserves of fresh and drinkable water are reduced. The purification of water by chemicals leads to even greater pollution of the environment.

Biological water purification is the use of special microorganisms that process organic constituents of sewage. Colonies of special bacteria form peculiar colloidal systems in the form of thin suspensions. In the course of the life of such a colony, the bacteria entering it purify water from pollution.

Biological water purification can be of two kinds: purification under natural conditions, in which microorganisms receive oxygen from the environment, and artificial, in which microorganisms function in closed systems, and oxygen for them comes through mechanical aeration.