Coaggregate

Coaggregate is a term used in several disciplines to describe the phenomenon where two or more components aggregate together in a coupled or correlated manner, forming mixed or composite aggregates. The prefix co- signals together or jointly, while aggregate refers to a mass formed from particles, objects, or data points.

Applications and usage vary by field. In colloid chemistry and materials science, coaggregation describes the formation of mixed particle aggregates where different particle types cluster under common conditions such as pH, ionic strength, or the presence of bridging agents. In environmental science and geochemistry, it can refer to the simultaneous clustering of mineral particles with organic matter into flocs, which affects sediment transport and filtration. In microbiology and ecology, coaggregation may describe mixed-species cell adhesion or biofilm formation, where different microbial populations join to create a single aggregate.

In data analysis and information systems, coaggregation can denote the joint aggregation of multiple data streams or features to produce a unified metric or summary, often used in sensor fusion or multi-variate analysis. The term is not widely standardized, and definitions differ across disciplines. Challenges include definitional ambiguity, varying measurement approaches, and the need to specify the components, conditions, and scales involved.

Related terms include aggregation, coagulation, flocculation, coalescence, and data fusion. Because coaggregation spans diverse domains, practitioners typically rely on field-specific conventions and notation when applying or interpreting the concept.