The Adsorption of Gelatin on Silver Bromide

Abstract
The adsorption heat of gelatin on AgBr was determined calorimetrically in function of the pH for gelatins with high and low isoelectric point (IEP). The adsorption heat increases for pH-values lower than the IEP and remains constant for the higher pH-values. The differences in adsorption heat are also revealed by competitive adsorption with dyes. The amount of adsorbed gelatin is also strongly pH-dependent. The results obtained completely confirm the hypothesis of Pouradier and Roman concerning the structure of the adsorbed gelatin layer; the first molecules are spread over the AgBr surface so as to form a monolayer. If more gelatin is added a reorganisation of the adsorbed molecules occurs. Segments of one definite molecule are replaced by segments of another one. In this way the quantity of gelatin adsorbed can be multiplied.