Blood, lead and spheres: A hindered settling equation for sedimentologists based on metadata analysis

A revision of the popular equation Richardson and Zaki (1954a, Transactions Institute Chemical Engineering, 32, 35–53) for hindered settling suspensions non-cohesive particles in fluids is proposed, based on 548 data sets from a broad range scientific disciplines. The new enables predictions velocity wide particle sizes densities, liquid densities viscosities, but with focus sediment water. analysis relationship between size presented here shows that effect increases as decreases, example, 50% reduction reached 0.025 mm silt 4 pebbles at concentrations 13% 25% respectively. Moreover, starts to influence behaviour volumetric merely few per cent. For flows carry 5% reduced by least 22%. These observations suggest greatly efficiency natural transport particles, also particulate carbon pollutants, such plastics, over large distances.