Does ultrasonication affect the degradation of polyacrylamide-based flocculants?

The effect of ultrasonication, screening and shearing on five polyacrylamide-based flocculants of similar molecular weight but different degrees of anionicity (DA) was studied through measurement of intrinsic viscosity ( [η]) and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) to investigate the influence of DA on the degradation of polymers.

Is polyacrylamide a comonomer?

Polyacrylamide (PAM) is the basis for most commercial polymeric flocculants mentioned in the literature (anionic, cationic, or non-ionic); this polymer is also modifiable with combinations of comonomers.

Why are non ionic and anionic polyacrylamide based flocculant chains used in tailings treatment?

Non-ionic and anionic polyacrylamide (PAM)-based flocculant chains are commonly employed in a vast majority of tailings treatment operations and several studies have been conducted on degradation of PAMs due to various factors such as pH, light and temperature , microbial degradation and chemical degradation .

What is a polymeric flocculant?

The addition of a polymeric flocculant allows for the destabilization of suspended colloidal particles, and thus significantly increases their sedimentation rate. Polymeric flocculants are generally divided into four categories, which include non-ionic, cationic, anionic, and amphoteric polymers.

Is cationic Pam effective in flocculation?

The success of anionic and cationic PAM in flocculation can be related to particle charges that allow for particle flocculation with polymers. Non-ionic PAM was shown to be ineffective at flocculating tailing particles. The ionicity of the polymer appears to be highly relevant here, based on the results.

What are the four types of polymeric flocculants?

Polymeric flocculants are generally divided into four categories, which include non-ionic, cationic, anionic, and amphoteric polymers. This minireview article summarises important information on the recent design and synthesis of polymeric materials from these four categories.