Coagulation

Name:
Coagulation
Detailed information:
Irreversible combination or aggregation of semisolid particles, such as fats or proteins, to form a clot or mass. This can often be brought about by addition of appropriate electrolytes, e.g., by the addition of an acid to milk or of aluminum sulfate to turbid water. Mechanical agitation and removal of stabilizing ions, as in dialysis, also cause coagulation. The clotting of blood by thrombin, of rubber particles in latex by acetic acid, and of egg white by heat are additional instances.See Agglomeration (1); Flocculation.