Are polyacrylamide-based flocculants based on'molecular architecture'?

The shape of the ubiquitous thickener has changed dramatically over the past 20 years on account of the separation efficiency afforded by polyacrylamide-based flocculants. Present day developments for polyacrylamide-based flocculants and those of the future are likely to be based on the ‘molecular architecture’ concept.

What type of polymer is a flocculant?

Most flocculants are acrylamide-based polymers and may be available in anionic, cationic, nonionic, or amphoteric forms 18. The copolymer adsorption on the surface of montmorillonite particles generally depends on the functional group of monomers and charge distribution 19, 20, 21.

Is acrylamide a cationic flocculant?

The copolymer of acrylamide (AM) and DMC is used as an effective cationic flocculant in wastewater treatment. A series of copolymers of AM and DMC (PAMC) were synthesized using different approaches. In earlier studies, γ-ray irradiation with inverse emulsion polymerization was employed to copolymerize AM and DMC .

Who bought polyacrylamide flocculant?

Commercial flocculant of polyacrylamide (PAM, MW of 2000–14,000 kDa) was bought from Aladdin Industrial Corporation (Shanghai, China). Anhydrous ethanol and acetone were supplied by Zhenqi Chemical Reagent Co., Ltd (Shanghai, China).

What are flocculants used for?

Flocculants, usually composed of PAMs, are widely used in several industrial fields, particularly in minerals extraction, to enhance solid/liquid separation in water containing suspended matter. These polymers can contain residual monomer of acrylamide (AMD), which is known to be a toxic compound.

What is cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM)?

Cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) is one of the most frequently used flocculants with high intrinsic viscosity and charge density. This flocculant is a water-soluble acrylamide-based polymer having cationic quaternary ammonium groups .