Polymeric flocculants addition

A fourth mechanism is called sweep flocculation. It is used primarily in very low soflds systems such as raw water clarification. Addition of an inorganic salt produces a metal hydroxide precipitate which entrains fine particles of other suspended soflds as it settles. A variation of this mechanism is sometimes employed for suspensions that do not respond to polymeric flocculants. A soHd material such as clay is deUberately added to the suspension and then flocculated with a high molecular weight polymer. The original suspended matter is entrained in the clay floes formed by the bridging mechanism and is removed with the clay. 

Coagulation involves neutralizing charged particles to destabilize suspended soflds. In most clarification processes, a flocculation step then follows. Flocculation starts when neutralized or entrapped particles begin to colUde and fuse to form larger particles. This process can occur naturally or can be enhanced by the addition of polymeric flocculant aids. 

Arsenic removal from drinking water is a major problem in many parts of the world. Han et al. [60] investigated arsenic removal by flocculation and microfiltration. Ferric chloride and ferric sulfate were used as flocculants. Results showed that flocculation before microfiltration led to significant arsenic removal in the permeate. Furthermore, the addition of small amounts of cationic polymeric flocculants resulted in significantly improved permeate fluxes during microflitration. 

Two approaches were taken to induce the formation of coagulum in laboratory polymerizations (i) addition of polymer to the monomer (ii) flocculation of the latex by mechanical shear. 

CE has been used for the analysis of anionic surfactants [946,947] and can be considered as complementary to HPLC for the analysis of cationic surfactants with advantages of minimal solvent consumption, higher efficiency, easy cleaning and inexpensive replacement of columns and the ability of fast method development by changing the electrolyte composition. Also the separation of polystyrene sulfonates with polymeric additives by CE has been reported [948]. Moreover, CE has also been used for the analysis of polymeric water treatment additives, such as acrylic acid copolymer flocculants, phosphonates, low-MW acids and inorganic anions. The technique provides for analyst time-savings and has lower detection limits and improved quantification for determination of anionic polymers, compared to HPLC. 

Flocculating agents can be simple electrolytes that are capable of reducing the zeta potential of suspended charged particles. Examples include small concentrations (0.01-1%) of monovalent ions (e.g., sodium chloride, potassium chloride) and di- or trivalent ions (e.g., calcium salts, alums, sulfates, citrates or phosphates) [80-83], These salts are often used jointly in the formulations as pH buffers and flocculating agents. Controlled flocculation of suspensions can also be achieved by the addition of polymeric colloids or alteration of the pH of the preparation. 

The controlled flocculation method may be used in conjunction with the addition of a polymeric material to form a structured vehicle. After the formation of the floes, an aqueous solution of polymeric material, usually negatively charged, such as carboxy-methylcellulose or carbopol, is added. The concentration employed depends on the consistency desired for the suspension, which also relates to the size and density of the dispersed phase. Care must be taken to ensure the absence of any incompatibility between the flocculating agent and the polymer used for the formation of the structured vehicle. 

In the conventional emulsion polymerization, a hydrophobic monomer is emulsified in water and polymerization initiated with a water-soluble initiator. Emulson polymerization can also be carried out as an inverse emulsion polymerization [Poehlein, 1986]. Here, an aqueous solution of a hydrophilic monomer is emulsified in a nonpolar organic solvent such as xylene or paraffin and polymerization initiated with an oil-soluble initiator. The two types of emulsion polymerizations are referred to as oil-in-water (o/w) and water-in-oil (w/o) emulsions, respectively. Inverse emulsion polymerization is used in various commerical polymerizations and copolymerizations of acrylamide as well as other water-soluble monomers. The end use of the reverse latices often involves their addition to water at the point of application. The polymer dissolves readily in water, and the aqueous solution is used in applications such as secondary oil recovery and flocculation (clarification of wastewater, metal recovery). 

The stability of electrostatically charged sols has been studied extensively and is now reasonably well understood. More recently the stabilising action of adsorbed or chemically anchored non-ionic polymers has received much attention. There has been however little systematic work on polyelectrolyte stabilisers apart from a number of investigations of the flocculation of particles bearing adsorbed biopolymers, usually proteins, by simple salts ( 2). These have shown that polyelectrolyte covered particles can be more stable with respect to the addition of salt than simple charged systems, and the extra stability has been ascribed to the polymeric nature of the surface layer. The precise mechanism by which polyelectrolytes stabilise dispersions in the presence of high concentrations of salt has however remained unclear. 

Combinations of cationic starch and anionic microparticles are useful commercial systems. Shear-sensitive flocculation occurs, allowing microscale reflocculation in the formed paper sheet, which improves dewatering and retention.63,75,76 The microparticles can be colloidal silica, aluminum silicate, poly(silicic acid) or bentonite of specific size and surface area.77 79 Cationic, anionic or polymeric aluminum-containing compounds can be additional components. A three-part coacervate system uses a high molecular weight anionic polyacrylamide, cationic starch and silica.80 Cooking cationic starch in the presence of an anionic silica hydrosol was reported to improve drainage and retention.81... 

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