Peculiarities of the formation of polyacrylamide compound-based polyelectrolyte complexes in the course of the flocculation of clay-salt dispersions

Peculiarities of the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes based on cationic and anionic copolymers of acrylamide having different macromolecule charge densities on the surfaces of kaolin particles in highly concentrated salt solution are investigated. The interactions of the copolymers with the clay particle surface and with each other are studied by electrokinetic and IR spectroscopy methods. The rheological properties of kaolin suspensions are investigated in a salt solution in the presence of the polyelectrolytes. The flocculation ability of the polyelectrolytes and their binary mixtures with respect to clay-salt dispersion is estimated. The mechanism for the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes on the surface of clay particles is discussed. It is shown that the complexation of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes on the surfaces of clay particles intensifies the flocculation of clay-salt dispersions.     

Effect of Surfactants on the Formation,Morphology, and Surface Property of Synthesized SiO2 Nanoparticles

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of cationic, anionic (saturated and unsaturated), and nonionic surfactants on the formation, morphology, and surface properties of silica nanoparticles synthesized by the ammonium‐catalyzed hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane in alcoholic media. Results indicate that at a relatively low surfactant concentration (1 × 10^?3–1 × 10^?6 M), cationic surfactants significantly affected the growth of silica particles as measured by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopic analyses. In contrast, the anionic and nonionic surfactants showed relatively minor effects in the low concentration range. The magnitude of negative zeta potential was reduced for silica colloids that were synthesized in the presence of cationic surfactant because of charge neutralization. The presence of anionic surfactants only slightly increased the negative zeta potential while the nonionic surfactant showed no obvious effects. At high surfactant concentrations (>1 × 10^?3 M), cationic and anionic surfactants both induced colloid aggregation, while the nonionic surfactant showed no effect on particle size. Raman spectroscopic analysis suggests that molecules of cationic surfactants adsorb on silica surfaces via head groups, aided by favorable electrostatic attraction, while molecules of anionic and nonionic surfactants adsorb via their hydrophobic tails.     

Chemistry of aqueous silica nanoparticle surfaces and the mechanism of selective peptide adsorption

Control over selective recognition of biomolecules on inorganic nanoparticles is a major challenge for the synthesis of new catalysts, functional carriers for therapeutics, and assembly of renewable biobased materials. We found low sequence similarity among sequences of peptides strongly attracted to amorphous silica nanoparticles of various size (15-450 nm) using combinatorial phage display methods. Characterization of the surface by acid base titrations and zeta potential measurements revealed that the acidity of the silica particles increased with larger particle size, corresponding to between 5% and 20% ionization of silanol groups at pH 7. The wide range of surface ionization results in the attraction of increasingly basic peptides to increasingly acidic nanoparticles, along with major changes in the aqueous interfacial layer as seen in molecular dynamics simulation. We identified the mechanism of peptide adsorption using binding assays, zeta potential measurements, IR spectra, and molecular simulations of the purified peptides (without phage) in contact with uniformly sized silica particles. Positively charged peptides are strongly attracted to anionic silica surfaces by ion pairing of protonated N-termini, Lys side chains, and Arg side chains with negatively charged siloxide groups. Further, attraction of the peptides to the surface involves hydrogen bonds between polar groups in the peptide with silanol and siloxide groups on the silica surface, as well as ion-dipole, dipole-dipole, and van-der-Waals interactions. Electrostatic attraction between peptides and particle surfaces is supported by neutralization of zeta potentials, an inverse correlation between the required peptide concentration for measurable adsorption and the peptide pI, and proximity of cationic groups to the surface in the computation. The importance of hydrogen bonds and polar interactions is supported by adsorption of noncationic peptides containing Ser, His, and Asp residues, including the formation of multilayers. We also demonstrate tuning of interfacial interactions using mutant peptides with an excellent correlation between adsorption measurements, zeta potentials, computed adsorption energies, and the proposed binding mechanism. Follow-on questions about the relation between peptide adsorption on silica nanoparticles and mineralization of silica from peptide-stabilized precursors are raised.     

Cationic-modified cyclodextrin nanosphere/anionic polymer as flocculation/sorption systems

Simultaneous removal of dissolved and colloidal substances has been a challenging task. The cationic-modified beta-cyclodextrin nanospheres synthesized in this work, in conjunction with a water-soluble polyacrylamide-based anionic polymer, potentially provide a novel approach to address the problem. The cyclodextrin was rendered cationic using (2,3-epoxypropyl)trimethylammonium chloride as a reagent. The cationicity of the modified cyclodextrin and the reaction between cyclodextrin and the reagent were characterized by electrophoresis measurement, polyelectrolyte titration, and NMR. As a dual-component flocculation system, the cationic cyclodextrin/anionic polymer significantly induced clay flocculation, lowering the relative turbidity of the clay suspension over a wide pH range. Meanwhile, as a nanospherical absorbent, the modified cyclodextrins exhibited strong affinity toward aromatic compounds via inclusion complex formation in the hydrophobic cavities, which was monitored by UV spectroscopy. These systems facilitated the simultaneous removal of dissolved and colloidal substances, which was unachievable previously. In addition, the interaction between anionic polymers and the clay particles pretreated with cationic cyclodextrin was investigated in order to reveal the flocculation mechanism.     

The effect of pretreatment of calcite dispersions with anionic sodium polyacrylate on their flocculation behavior induced by cationic starch

The flocculation performance of cationic starches on calcite pretreated with anionic sodium polyacrylate (NaPA) was investigated by measuring the mean particle size and the dynamic mobility of the calcite dispersions. Cationic starches of different molecular weight and degree of substitution were used. By varying the amount of anionic sodium polyacrylate, which has a strong affinity to the calcium carbonate surface, one is able to anionically modify the particles and reverse the charge character of the originally cationic calcium carbonate. By such modification of the charge character of the calcium carbonate dispersion, it is possible to approach the mechanisms of flocculation caused by cationic macromolecules like starch. The importance of different mechanisms of flocculation, such as bridging, charge neutralization, and flocculation induced by polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC), was further investigated in this work. It was found that when the NaPA is completely absorbed at the calcite surfaces the mechanism of the flocculation induced by the starch is mainly bridging flocculation. Excess NaPA in the calcium carbonate dispersion will result in polyelectrolyte complexes formed between the non-absorbed NaPA and the oppositely charged starch polymers. These complexes will in most cases strongly enhance the flocculation due to mainly charge neutralization. Depending on the ratio of non-absorbed NaPA and the starch in the aqueous phase, the calcite dispersion is either re-stabilized or more strongly flocculated due to the formed polyelectrolyte complexes. Both the mobility and the particle size measurements support the mechanisms described. It was further demonstrated that the molecular weight and degree of substitution of the starches might be adjusted to control the flocculation behavior.     

Polyelectrolyte adsorption on charged surfaces: study by electrokinetic measurements

In order to describe the influence of cationic polyelectrolytes on flocculation of disperse systems the adsorption of poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) onto silica, mica and acidic polymer latex was investigated. The plateau value of the adsorption isotherms grows with increasing surface charge density of the substrates and electrolyte concentration. The adsorbed layer of the polycation was characterized by zeta potential measurements with KCl solutions of constant ionic strength and varied pH. The zero point of the charge as well as the shape of the zeta potential–pH plot depends on the coverage of the surface with polycations. For fully covered substrates the zero point of the charge as well as the pK_A and pK_B values calculated by a stochastic search programme are independent of the substrate. Maximum flocculation was observed at about 30% of the plateau value of the adsorption isotherms.     

Characterization and Aggregation Behaviors of Mixed DDAB/SDS Solution With and Without Poly(4-styrenesulfonic Acid-Co-Maleic Acid) Sodium

Synthetic vesicles are formed by cationic and anionic surfactants, didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB), and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). The morphology, size, and aqueous properties of cationic/anionic mixtures are investigated at various molar ratios between cationic and anionic surfactants. The charged vesicular dispersions made of DDAB/SDS are contacted or mixed with negatively charged polyelectrolyte, poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) sodium (PSSAMA), to form complexes. Depending on DDAB/SDS molar ratio or PSSAMA/vesicle charge ratio, complexes flocculation or precipitation occur. Characterization of the cationic/anionic vesicles or complexes formed by the catanionic vesicles and polyelectrolytes is performed by transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), conductivity, turbidity, and zeta potential measurements. The size, stability, and the surface charge on the mixed cationic/anionic vesicles or complexes are determined.     

Homo- and heteroflocculation of papermaking fines and fillers

The effects of cationic polyethylenimine (PEI) on the colloidal stability of anionic fines (microcrystalline cellulose or thermomechanical fines), fillers (clay) and their mixtures in deionized and tap water were investigated, using a photometric dispersion analyzer. Measurements confirmed that PEI flocculates all used materials by charge neutralization. As expected, higher additions of PEI lead to electrostatic stabilization of microcellulose and clay suspensions, but it was not possible to stabilize the suspension of fines using high additions of PEI. This is ascribed to the mechanical entanglements of fibrillar fines. In tap water, much more PEI is needed to reach optimum flocculation conditions than in deionized water. Heteroflocculation between PEI-coated clay and fines takes place with a rate which, for high fines concentration and a constant clay concentration, is independent of fines concentration. A theoretical model for the heteroflocculation of fines with PEI-coated clay has been developed, which explains the observed trends. In essence, clay particles can act as bridging agents for fines flocculation.     

Effect of glutamate on the electrical properties of cationic solid lipid nanoparticles containing stearylamine and dioctadecyldimethyl ammonium bromide

Electrical properties, including electrophoretic mobility, zeta potential, total surface charge density, and surface charge density resulting from primary amino groups, of cationic solid lipid nanoparticles (CSLNs) were investigated in the present study. Cationic lipids including stearylamine (SA) and dioctadecyldimethyl ammonium bromide (DODAB) were covered on the external cores of CSLNs. The influences of glutamate concentration in the medium, composition of cationic lipids, and surfactant species were especially analyzed. The results indicated that an increase in the mole ratio of SA in the cationic lipid caused an increase in the average diameter of CSLNs. Also, the average diameter of Span 20-stabilized CSLNs was larger than that of Tween 80-stabilized CSLNs. The electrostatic traits of CSLNs were reduced as the mole ratio of SA increased, and the electricity of Span 20-stabilized CSLNs was weaker than that of Tween 80-stabilized CSLNs. An increase in the glutamate concentration in the medium led to a decrease in electrophoretic mobility, zeta potential, and total surface charge density of CSLNs. As the glutamate concentration increased, surface charge density resulting from primary amino groups increased, and that from quaternary amino groups decreased as a result of the adsorption of negatively charged glutamate on CSLN surfaces. Ohshima's soft particle theory was adopted to describe the electrical behavior of CSLNs, and the deviations of zeta potential predicted by the Smoluchowski, Happel, and Kuwabara models were normally greater than 10%.     

Depletion flocculation of latex dispersion in ionic micellar systems

The flocculation behavior of anionic and cationic latex dispersions induced by addition of ionic surfactants with different polarities (SDS and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)) have been evaluated by rheological measurements. It was found that in identical polar surfactant systems with particle surfaces of SDS + anionic lattices and CTAB + cationic lattices, a weak and reversible flocculation has been observed in a limited concentration region of surfactant, which was analyzed as a repletion flocculation induced by the volume-restriction effect of the surfactant micelles. On the other hand, in oppositely charged surfactant systems (SDS + cationic lattices and CTAB + anionic lattices), the particles were flocculated strongly in a low surfactant concentration region, which will be based on the charge neutralization and hydrophobic effects from the adsorbed surfactant molecules. After the particles stabilized by the electrostatic repulsion of adsorbed surfactant layers, the system viscosity shows a weak maximum again in a limited concentration region. This weak maximum was influenced by the shear rate and has a complete reversible character, which means that this weak flocculation will be due to the depletion effect from the free micelles after saturated adsorption.     

Enhanced stabilization of emulsions due to surfactant-induced nanoparticle flocculation

We have shown recently (Binks, B. P.; Rodrigues, J. A.; Frith, W. J. Langmuir 2007, 23, 3626) that, for mixtures of negatively charged silica nanoparticles and cationic surfactant, oil-in-water emulsions are most stable to creaming and coalescence at conditions of maximum flocculation of particles by surfactant in aqueous dispersions alone. Here, we extend the idea using positively charged silica particles in mixtures with anionic surfactant.     

Adsorption of polyelectrolyte modified graphene to silica surfaces: monolayers and multilayers

Exfoliated graphene particles stabilised by the cationic polyelectrolyte polyethyleneimine (PEI) were used in conjunction with an anionic polyelectrolyte, poly(acrylic acid), to construct multilayers using the layer-by-layer technique on a silica substrate. In the first adsorption step, the surface excess of the cationic graphene was dependent on the overall charge on the nanoparticle which in turn can be tuned through modifying solution pH as PEI has weakly ionisable charged amine groups. The adsorbed amount onto the silica surface increased as the solution pH increased. Subsequently, a layer of PAA was adsorbed on top of the cationic graphene through electrostatic interaction. The multilayer could be assembled through this alternate deposition, with the influence of solution conditions investigated. The pH of the adsorbing solutions was the chief determinant of the overall adsorbed amounts, with more mass added at the elevated pH of 9 in comparison with pH 4. Atomic force microscopy confirmed that the graphene particles were adsorbed to the silica interface and that the surface coverage of the disc-like nanoparticles was complete after the deposition of five graphene-polyelectrolyte bi-layers. Furthermore, the graphene nanoparticles themselves could be modified through the consecutive addition of the oppositely charged polymers. A multilayered assembly of negatively charged graphene sheets modified with a bi-layer of PEI and PAA was also deposited on a silica surface with adsorbed PEI.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Piperazinium Polyelectrolytes Carrying Hydrophobic Functionalities: Effect of Counter Ion and Charge Density on Flocculation

Following our recent synthesis and characterization of three new cationic polyelectrolytes with subtle hydrophobic variability, this paper reports their physical and chemical properties in aqueous media in relation to their chemical structure. Aryl substituted cationic polyelectrolytes varying with their charge density are reported for the first time. Viscosity studies show that these polymers display typical polyelectrolytic behavior. The flocculation efficiency of the polyelectrolytes was investigated with different counter ions. The zeta potential of the polyelectrolytes indicates the charge of the mono and diquaternary ammonium salts which is supported by chloride analysis. The morphology of polymer before and after flocculation was investigated. The introduction of methylene group and quaternary nitrogen play an important role in the flocculation process. It was shown that increasing the hydrophobicity and charge density of the aryl substituted polymer affects the flocculation in the industrial tannery effluent and bentonite suspension.     

阳离子聚电解质对油污泥的絮凝作用机理

用高密度电荷阳离子聚电解质处理油污泥［１,２］,依靠其与粘土颗粒间的静电作用压缩污泥中固相颗粒的表面双电层,中和ζ电位,使其颗粒间斥力减小,引力增大,油污泥化学脱稳,致使粘土颗粒聚集絮凝成团块,油颗粒聚集,实现油、水、泥渣的三相分离．１　实验部分１．１　样品制备　现场采集的油污泥中油品含量１９％,固含量８％,体系漏斗粘度３７ｓ,密度１．０９ｇ／ｃｍ３．阳离子聚电解质（ＣＦ）、聚丙烯酰胺－丙烯酸β－羟基丙酯基三甲基氯化铵按文献［２,３］方法制备,平均分子量２．６０×１０６,阳离子电荷度４５％．阴离…     

Effect of polyelectrolytes and polyelectrolyte mixtures on the electrokinetic potential of dispersed particles. 2. Electrokinetic potential of silica particles in electrolyte, polyelectrolyte and polyelectrolyte mixtures solutions

The effect pH, ionic strength (KCl concentration), weakly and medium charged anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes (PEs) as well as their binary mixtures on the electrokinetic potential of silica particles as a function of the polyelectrolyte/mixture dose, its composition, charge density (CD) of the PE, and way of adding the polymers to the suspension has been studied. It has been shown that addition of increasing amount of anionic PEs increases the absolute value of the negative zeta-potential of particles at pH > pH isoelectric point (IEP = 2.5); this increase is stronger the charge density of the polyelectrolyte is higher. Adsorption of cationic polyelectrolytes at these pH values gives a significant decrease in the negative ζ-potential and overcharging the particles; changes in the ζ-potential are more pronounced for PE samples with higher CD. In mixtures of cationic and anionic PE at pH > pHIEP, the ζ-potential of particles is determined by the adsorbed amount of the anionic polymer independently of the CD of PEs, the mixture composition and the sequence of addition of the mixture components. Unexpectedly, the ζ-potential of silica at pH = 2.1, i.e. < pHIEP, turned out to be positive in the presence of both anionic PE and cationic + anionic PE mixtures. This is explained by formation (and adsorption onto positively charged silica surface) of pseudo-cationic PEs from anionic ones due to transfer of protons from the solution to the amino-group of the anionic polymer. Considerations about the role of coulombic and non-coulombic forces in the mechanism of PE adsorption are presented.     

Adsorption of anionic and cationic surfactants on anionic colloids: supercharging and destabilization

We present herein a study on the adsorption of anionic (SDS), cationic (CTAB), and nonionic (C(12)E(5)) surfactants onto anionic silica nanoparticles. The effects of this adsorption are studied by means of the static structure factor, S(q), and the collective diffusion coefficient, D(c), obtained from small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering measurements, respectively. The effective charge on the particles was determined also from classical electrophoresis and electroacoustic sonic-amplitude measurements. The surface tension of the sample was also investigated. Of particular note is the adsorption of SDS onto the silica nanoparticles, which leads to supercharging of the interface. This has interesting repercussions for structures obtained by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique, because emulsions stabilized with supercharged and hydrophobized silica are perfect candidates for use in a multilayer system.     

Electrostatic interactions between amphoteric latex particles and proteins

The electrostatic interactions between amphoteric polymethyl methacrylate latex particles and proteins with different pI values were investigated. These latex particles possess a net positive charge at low pH, but they become negatively charged at high pH. The nature and degree of interactions between these polymer particles and proteins are primarily controlled by the electrostatic characteristics of the particles and proteins under the experimental conditions. The self-promoting adsorption process from the charge neutralization of latex particles by the proteins, which have the opposite net charge to that of the particles, leads to a rapid reduction in the zeta potential of the particles (in other words colloidal stability), and so strong flocculation occurs. On the other hand, the electrostatic repulsion forces between similarly charged latex particles and the proteins retard the adsorption of protein molecules onto the surfaces of the particles. Therefore, latex particles exhibit excellent colloidal stability over a wide range of protein concentrations. A transition from net negative charge to net positive charge, and vice versa (charge reversal), was observed when the particle surface charge density was not high enough to be predominant in the protein adsorption process.     

Successive adsorption of polyacrylamide compounds from electrolyte solutions on the surface of kaolinitic clay particles

Successive adsorption of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, namely, cationic and anionic acrylamide copolymers, on a solid phase surface from solutions with high ionic strength is investigated. The constants of the Freundlich equation are calculated for the adsorption of different polymers. The interrelation between the adsorption values of polymers and their flocculation activity with respect to clay-salt suspensions is determined. The successive adsorption of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes strongly affects the flocculation due to the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes on the surface of clay particles. The mechanism for complexation is proposed.     

Effect of anionic surfactants on synthesis and self-assembly of silica colloidal nanoparticles

Effects of the anionic surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium oleate, on the formation and properties of silica colloidal nanoparticles were investigated. At a concentration of approximately 1 x 10(-3) M, adsorption of anionic surfactants increased particle size, monodispersity, and negative surface charge density of synthesized silica particles. As uniformity of particle size and particle-particle interactions increase, colloidal photonic crystals readily self-assemble without extensive washing of the synthesized silica nanoparticles. The photonic crystals diffract light in the visible region according to Bragg's law. The assembled colloidal particle arrays exhibit a face-centered cubic structure in dried thin films. This study offers a new approach for producing ordered colloidal silica thin films.     

X-ray study of the electric double layer at the n-hexane/nanocolloidal silica interface

The spatial structure of the transition region between an insulator and an electrolyte solution was studied with x-ray scattering. The electron-density profile across the n-hexane/silica sol interface (solutions with 5, 7, and 12 nm colloidal particles) agrees with the theory of the electrical double layer and shows separation of positive and negative charges. The interface consists of three layers, i.e., a compact layer of Na(+), a loose monolayer of nanocolloidal particles as part of a thick diffuse layer, and a low-density layer sandwiched between them. Its structure is described by a model in which the potential gradient at the interface reflects the difference in the potentials of "image forces" between the cationic Na(+) and anionic nanoparticles and the specific adsorption of surface charge. The density of water in the large electric field (approximately 10(9)-10(10) Vm) of the transition region and the layering of silica in the diffuse layer is discussed.