Abstract: The adsorption of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate(SDBS), tetradecyl pyridine bromide(TPB) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP) onto the ZrO₂ particles in aqueous solutions and the effect of the adsorption on the stability of ZrO₂ suspension have been studied. The results show that the isotherms are of LS type for SDBS at pH 2.4 and of S type for TPB at pH 7.0, respectively. The adsorption isotherms for both surfactants are roughly identical with potential changecurves of ZrO₂ particles: at maximum adsorption ZrO₂ has greater potential value and the adsorbed surfactant ions form surface micells with more parts of their hydrophilic groups being towards water phase, increasing the stability of ZrO₂ suspension. The amount of PVP adsorbed on the positively charged ZrO₂ is greater than that on the negatively charged ZrO₂. In concentrated PVP solution the ZrO₂ suspension has higher stability.

Key words: sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, tetradecylpyridine bromide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, ZrO₂, adsorption, suspension stability