Flocculation anionic flocculants

The repulsion between oil droplets will be more effective in preventing flocculation Ae greater the thickness of the diffuse layer and the greater the value of 0. the surface potential. These two quantities depend oppositely on the electrolyte concentration, however. The total surface potential should increase with electrolyte concentration, since the absolute excess of anions over cations in the oil phase should increase. On the other hand, the half-thickness of the double layer decreases with increasing electrolyte concentration. The plot of emulsion stability versus electrolyte concentration may thus go through a maximum. 

Anionic and nonionic polyacrylamides effectively remove suspended soHds such as silt and clay from potable water. SuppHers provide special grades which meet EPA/FDA regulations for residual acrylamides. A recent pubHcation (102) states that hydrolyzed polyacrylamides with narrow interchain charge distributions provide better performance in flocculation of clay. These polymers were prepared by alkaline hydrolysis. (See Flocculating agents.)... 

In the area of municipal and iadustrial wastewater treatment, the principal environmental issue is the toxicity of residual flocculating agents ia the effluent. Laboratory studies have shown that cationic polymers are toxic to fish because of the iateraction of these polymers with giU. membranes. Nonionic and anionic polymers show no toxicity (82,83). Other studies have shown that ia natural systems the suspended inorganic matter and humic substances substantially reduce the toxicity of added cationic polymer, and the polymers have been used successfully ia fish hatcheries (84—86). Based on these results, the EPA has added a protocol for testing these polymers for toxicity toward fish ia the presence of humic acids (87). The addition of anionic polymers to effluent streams containing cationic polymers to reduce their toxicity has been mentioned ia the patent Hterature (83). 

Flocculation. The interaction of the cationic PEIs with anionic substrates leads to substrate flocculation. AppHcations of this property include the coagulation of latex (434), commercial appHcation in effluent treatments (435—437), and stabiHzation of highly loaded coal—water mixtures in mining (438). 

Overflow from the first clarifier, typically a 20% BaS solution, is filtered and sent on to the precipitation department. Settling of soflds in the clarifiers can be enhanced by various flocculating agents (qv), preferably weakly anionic polyacrylamides (17). 

The ferrous ions that dissolve from the anode combine with the hydroxide ions produced at the cathode to give an iron hydroxide precipitate. The active surface of ferrous hydroxide can absorb a number of organic compounds as well as heavy metals from the wastewater passing through the cell. The iron hydroxide and adsorbed substances are then removed by flocculation and filtration. The separation process was enhanced by the addition of a small quantity of an anionic polymer. 

Latex Types. Latexes are differentiated both by the nature of the coUoidal system and by the type of polymer present. Nearly aU of the coUoidal systems are similar to those used in the manufacture of dry types. That is, they are anionic and contain either a sodium or potassium salt of a rosin acid or derivative. In addition, they may also contain a strong acid soap to provide additional stabUity. Those having polymer soUds around 60% contain a very finely tuned soap system to avoid excessive emulsion viscosity during polymeri2ation (162—164). Du Pont also offers a carboxylated nonionic latex stabili2ed with poly(vinyl alcohol). This latex type is especiaUy resistant to flocculation by electrolytes, heat, and mechanical shear, surviving conditions which would easUy flocculate ionic latexes. The differences between anionic and nonionic latexes are outlined in Table 11. 

Polymeric flocculants are available in various chemical compositions and molecular weight ranges, and they may be nonionic in character or may have predominantly cationic or anionic charges. The range of application varies but, in general, nonionics are well suited to acidic suspensions, anionic flocculants work well in neutral or alkaline environments, and cationics are most effective on organic material and colloidal matter. 

Chemical pretreatment is often used to improve the performance of contaminant removal. The use of chemical flocculants is based on system efficiency, the specific DAF application and cost. Commonly used chemicals include trivalent metallic salts of iron, such as FeClj or FeSO or aluminum, such as AISO. Organic and inorganic polymers (cationic or anionic) are generally used to enhance the DAF process. 

The major chemical problem met in ion-exchange practice is the fouling or poisoning of the anion resins by organic matter. The various counter measures deployed include pre-flocculation, oxidation of the organic material, the use of specially developed resins, and treatment of the fouled resins by brine and/or hypochlorite. 

Sometimes poor centrifugation behaviour of cells can be improved by adding flocculation agents. These agents neutralise the anionic charges (carboxyl and phosphate groups) on the surface of the microbial cells. Examples of flocculation agents are alum, caldum and ferric salts, tannic add etc. 

Where MU water silica is high (say, more than 20-30 ppm Si02), action probably is needed to reduce the silica level at source. This may be achieved in several ways, for example, by the use of anion exchange or flocculation-adsorption processes using ferric sulfate or magnesium hydroxide. 

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