Aggregation in the Presence of Polymers

Runkana et al. [23, 25] developed population balance models (PBMs) for polymer-induced flocculation by two well-known mechanisms, simple charge neutralization [23] and bridging [25]. They assumed that polymer adsorption on oppositely charged particle surfaces is very fast and equilibrium conformation is achieved before collisions between particles take place. It was also assumed that polymer adsorbs uniformly and polymer surface coverage and adsorbed layer thickness are the same for all particles. The composite polymer-coated particle radius was estimated by adding adsorbed layer thickness to the soM particle radius. 

In the cases of aggregation by charge patch neutralization or bridging, it is necessary to include steric or bridging forces. Bridging flocculation takes place when polymer chains adsorb on more than one particle and act as bridges. Invoking 

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Rothstein, J. P. (2008). Strong flows of viscoelastic wormlike mieeUe solutions. Rheology Reviews 1-42. Ruckenstein, E., G. Huber, and H. Hoffmann (1987). Surfactant aggregation in the presence of polymers. Langmuir 3(3) 382-387. 

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