LAUSR

Abstract The Smoluchowski’s coagulation rate coefficient (kc-S) has been used for decades notwithstanding its predictions are not always consistent with experimental data. In this work, kc-S and Herrera-Ordonez (kc-HO) models, were modified and combined to obtain a hybrid equation kc-h for the rate coefficient of rapid coagulation. Modification of kc-S consisted in adapting the concepts of diffusion-reaction, such as effectiveness factor F, to the case of particle coagulation which is considered a pseudo-reaction. Unlike the deterministic and stochastic approaches, the hybrid model kc-h can fit experimental data for the effects of size and concentration of particles, on kc, using only one adjustable parameter value for all particle sizes. The higher predictability of kc-h suggests that their assumptions are more realistic. The behavior of F indicates that the fusion of relatively large particles is more effective than that of small particles to produce the sink effect.