A kinetic investigation of the flocculation of alumina with polyacrylic acid

Using a model colloidal system of alumina and polyacrylic acid (PAA), the kinetics of flocculation was investigated at low polymer concentrations and short durations (on the order of seconds). The polymer-induced flocculation processes obeyed Von Smoluchowski's bimolecular rate equation. Increases in the concentration of the polymer resulted in higher rate constants for the flocculation process. At a fixed concentration (say 50 ppb, parts per billion), the rate constant values showed a maximum value for 250,000 g mol(-1) polyacrylic acid. At this polymer concentration, calculations of the surface coverage of alumina by PAA molecules of different molecular weights show that for all the cases the coverage is nearly the same, approximately 1x10(-3), but the flocculation response and the rates are significantly different. This trend in flocculation characteristics is attributed to the critical polymer number density requirement for effective flocculation (at least partial charge neutralization and initiation of flocculation). The mechanism governing the flocculation at ultralow concentrations (50 ppb) is the synergistic effect of partial patch neutralization and bridging.     

Preparation and characterization of different polyelectrolyte complexes and their application as flocculants

 Polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) from poly(diallyl-dimethyl-ammoniumchloride) PDADMAC and two different polyanions, formed in aqueous solution, were characterized by different methods (zeta-potential, net content, turbidity) and applied as flocculants. The flocculation of clay was investigated by sedimentation measurement as well as by a dynamic method, using a Fibre Optical Flocculation Sensor. The results of both methods showed that the most important advantages of PEC were the high velocity of sedimentation and a very broad range of the optimum flocculation concentration. In spite of the differences in the complex-forming behavior of the two polyanions used, no significant differences between complexes of the same composition but different polyanions are obtained. In contrast, the ratio of anionic to cationic charges is of great importance for the mechanism of flocculation. Received: 30 May 1997 Accepted: 22 September 1997     

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.     

Dispersing phase viscometry and zeta potential in alumina dispersions

The stabilities of alumina dispersions were studied as a function of poly- and low molecular weight electrolyte concentration, using viscometry of the dispersing phase, and zeta potential measurements. The relation of polyelectrolyte adsorption to polymer concentration (at different low molecular weight electrolyte concentrations) was found to depend upon the dimensions of the polymer (which were a priori known to decrease with increasing poly- and low molecular weight electrolyte concentration). The occurrence of flocculation and bridging in the destabilization mechanism of the alumina dispersions was also characterized.     

Determination of heavy metal ions by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection after field-amplified sample injection.

A method has been developed for determining of heavy metal ions by field-amplified sample injection capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection. The effects of the 2-N-morpholinoethanesulfonic acid/histidine (MES/His) concentration in the sample matrix, the injection time and organic additives on the enrichment factor were studied. The results showed that MES/His with a low concentration in the sample matrix, an increase of the injection time and the addition of acetonitrile improved the enrichment factor. Four heavy metal ions (Zn2+, Co2+, Cu2+ and Ni2+) were dissolved in deionized water, separated in a 10 mM MES/His running buffer at pH 4.9 and detected by contactless conductivity detection. The detection sensitivity was enhanced by about three orders of magnitude with respect to the non-stacking injection mode. The limits of detection were in the range from 5 nM (Zn2+) to 30 nM (Cu2+). The method has been used to determine heavy metal ions in tap water.     

电浮选方法在净化镍离子中的应用研究

采用电浮选方法,对水溶液中的Ni^2 的净化效果进行了研究。通过考察溶液的pH、离子强度、Ni^2 的初始浓度以及电极电流密度等因素,讨论了电浮选方法影响重金属Ni^2 净化的情况;并与传统的自然沉降法对照,认为电解过程所产生的微小气泡除参与浮选之外,还参与了金属胶体颗粒形成的絮凝过程,使电浮选工艺过程不仅能浮选不溶性胶体颗粒,而且还可以进一步去除溶液中可溶性重金属Ni^2 ,从而使净化效果更佳。实验结果也表明,电浮选对于净化处理含低浓度重金属Ni^2 溶液效果优于重量沉淀法。并对其它含重金属离子污水净化提供了参考。     

香蕉皮对重金属离子铅的吸附性能研究

建立了香蕉皮快速、高效对重金属离子铅吸附性能的方法。采用分光光度法测定重金属离子铅的浓度,分别研究了7种不同形态的吸附剂对废水中重金属离子铅的吸附性能。在优化的实验条件下,重金属离子铅浓度与吸光度的线性相关系数R=0.999 83,且方法相对标准偏差(RSD)低于3%。结果表明,香蕉皮对废水中的重金属离子铅有良好的吸附效果,吸附率达到91.3%。利用香蕉皮去除废水中的重金属离子,可以变废为宝,且方法吸附率高、准确可靠、精密度高,可用于吸附废水中重金属离子铅。     

Flocculation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H Disintegrates with Cationized Starch and Aminated Hydroxyethylcellulose

The ability of cationized hydroxyethylated starch (CHES) and aminated hydroxyethylcellulose (DEAE-HEC) to flocculate cell disintegrate of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H (BamHI) was investigated. The efficiency of flocculation was compared to that of synthetic polymer polyethyleneimine (PEI) and natural polysaccharide chitosan. The influence of salt concentration and biomass concentration on flocculation efficiency was investigated. It was found that the efficiency of flocculation with CHES and DEAE-HEC was similar to that of PEI but better compared to chitosan. Recovery of total soluble proteins at higher than 0.3% concentration of flocculant decreased by more than 18.8% and 42.3% compared to PEI and chitosan, respectively. The yield of BamHI restriction endonuclease activity with all flocculants was similar except for chitosan where 13.1% lower yield was obtained. Meanwhile, efficiency of flocculation with CHES and DEAE-HEC depends drastically on the salt concentration, that is, flocculation diminishes if NaCl concentrations higher than 0.2 M (for CHES) or 0.1 M (for DEAE-HEC) are used. The results have shown that CHES and DEAE-HEC are promising flocculants of cell disintegrates if higher yield of protein is of great concern.     

Clay and oxide destabilization induced by mixed alum/macromolecular flocculation aids

The review points out typical differences and analogies of the bulk characteristics of aluminum ion complexed polyelectrolytes and of their adsorption behaviors when such systems were supplied to inorganic colloids such as oxides and clays. It reports some particular investigations that were carried out in aqueous media to determine (i) the nature of the interactions existing between clay or oxides, aluminum ions and polyelectrolytes and (ii) the effects on the interfacial characteristics and the colloid stability related to the relative concentrations of these different constituents. The investigations concerned the synthetic alumina/polyacrylic acid systems and the natural kaolinite/humic acid systems, as well as partly the mixed alumina/humic acid systems. Different adsorption features and destabilization kinetics were determined to develop within these systems. One of the main constraints of the investigation arose from the presence of three interacting components which developed amphoteric and amphipatic interactions, the latter being generated by the hydrophobic moieties induced by the aluminum ions/carboxylic acid groups ion-pairing. The investigations concerned the extent and the rate of transfer of hydrogen, aluminum ions and polyelectrolytes from the bulk solution to the solid surface. Electrical surface charge characteristics were expressed in terms of the ζ potential of the colloid/polymer complexes. The colloid stability of the systems was determined as a function of time at short and long terms. The variation as a function of time of the number and weight average masses was correlated with the variation with time of the ζ potential. All these systems were determined to reach the kinetic and thermodynamic equilibrium only slowly. Despite the fact that the supply of mixed coagulants provoked the initial aggregation and the subsequent fragmentation processes for both systems, the mechanisms responsible for the two processes were found to be different as revealed by comparatively investigating the synthetic and the natural systems. The fragmentation originated from the slow segregation process of positively and negatively charged groups for the natural kaolinite/humic acid systems, while the segregation process affected hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties for the synthetic alumina/polyacrylic acid systems.     

Influence of humic acid on the flocculation of clay

The aim of this study was to improve the flocculation of wastewater from gravel pits, especially the separation of the finely dispersed inorganic particles and the removing of humic acid. Clay was used as a model to investigate the influence of humic acid on the flocculation with two different types of polycation. The dependence of the sedimentation behaviour on time was investigated as well as the turbidity of the supernatant and the light absorption as a measure for humic acid removal. Bridging of particles remained the dominant mechanism of particle destabilisation by treating the clay in water with cationic polyacrylamides of very high molecular mass (CPAM). Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) of lower molar mass (35 000 g/mol) was found to act by charge neutralisation. In this case the so-called flocculation window was very small. This behaviour is the same for systems containing humic acid. However, the need for cationic flocculant increases because humic acid as a weak polyanion can interact with the polycation. By using CPAMs with low charge this interaction does not play a significant role. The optimum flocculation concentration is relatively high. The flocs are larger and the velocity of sedimentation is higher than for the short-chain and highly charged polycation PDADMAC. However, because the latter is more effective in removal of humic acid at the point of optimum flocculation it is more advantageous to combine the highly charged polycation with a high molecular weight polyanion (dual system).     

Influence of hydrolyzable metal ions on the interfacial chemistry, particle interactions, and dewatering behavior of kaolinite dispersions

The influence of hydrolyzable metal ions (Mn(II) and Ca(II)) adsorption on the surface chemistry, particle interactions, flocculation, and dewatering behavior of kaolinite dispersions has been investigated at pH 7.5 and 10.5. Metal ion adsorption was strongly cation type- and pH-dependent and significantly influenced the zeta potential, anionic polyacrylamide-acrylate flocculant (PAM) adsorption, shear yield stress, settling rate, and consolidation of kaolinite slurries. The presence of Mn(II) and Ca(II) ions alone led to a systematic reduction in zeta potential due to specific adsorption of positively charged metal ion-based hydrolysis products at the kaolinite-water interface. Metal ion-mediated zeta potential changes were reflected by lower dispersion shear yield stresses and improved clarification (higher settling rates) but had no detectable effect on dispersion consolidation. The adsorption of PAM was significantly improved by prior addition of the metal ions. In the presence of Mn(II) or Ca(II) ions, the flocculant adsorption density was enhanced at pH 7.5 for Mn(II) and pH 10.5 for Ca(II). Optimum flocculation conditions, involving partial rather than complete particle surface coverage by both metal ions and flocculant, were identified. As a consequence, the metal ions and flocculant acted synergistically to enhance dewatering, producing particle interactions that were more conducive to high settling rates and greater consolidation of kaolinite dispersions at pH 7.5 than 10.5.     

Synthesis of nanocomposites from cationic polyacrylamide and modified carbon black: Application as flocculants for oily sludge suspension

Carbon black was modified using various liquid‐phase oxidation methods (modified carbon black = m‐CB, m = (1, 2, 3): 1, sulfuric acid/potassium permanganate method; 2, nitric acid method; 3, hydrogen peroxide method). With acetone–ethylene glycol as initiator, dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (DMDAAC) and acrylamide (AM) as monomer, cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) was prepared by UV excitation of the monomer. The m‐CB/CPAM nanocomposites were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. The factors that affected the molecular weight of CPAM were investigated, including the total monomer concentration, the dosage of the complex initiator, the mass ratio of m_AM:m_DMDAAC and the UV irradiation time. The chemical structures and morphologies of the samples were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental composition, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. 1‐CB/CPAM was utilized to flocculate oil sludge suspension, and the effects of 1‐CB quality, 1‐CB/CPAM dosage, temperature and pH value on the flocculation performance of 1‐CB/CPAM were investigated. The flocculation mechanism of 1‐CB/CPAM was also analyzed. The results show that 1‐CB/CPAM has an outstanding flocculation effect, and it flocculates oil sludge particles by adsorption bridging and charge neutralization in acidic and alkaline conditions.     

Preconcentration/Separation of Some Metal Ions Using Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Coated Alumina Modified with Bis(5‐bromo‐2‐hydroxy‐benzaldehyde)‐2‐methyl‐1,5‐pentane Diimine (BBHBPDI) Prior to Their Flame‐AAS Determination

Preconcentration/separation of Co(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Cr(III), Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions using bis(5‐bromo‐2‐hydroxy‐benzaldehyde)‐2‐methyl‐1,5‐pentane diimine (BBHBPDI) on SDS coated alumina has been reported. The influences of the analytical parameters including pH, ligand and SDS amount, type and concentration of eluent and sample volume on metal ions recoveries were investigated. At optimum values of all variables the relative standard deviation are between 2.5–2.7 and preconcentration factor was 375, while recoveries for all understudy metal ions are higher than 95%, determination limits are between 1.5–2.7. The method has been successfully applied to determination of Co(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Cr(III), Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions content in some real samples.     

Flocculation performance and mechanism of chitosan-based flocculants in the treatment of emulsified oily wastewater

Chitosan (CS)-based flocculants, denoted as CS-g-PAM and CS-g-PDBC, were successfully prepared via graft copolymerization of CS with acrylamide (AM) or dimethyl acryloyloxyethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (DBC). The grafting was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The flocculation performance of CS-g-PAM and CS-g-PDBC, as well as flocculants such as cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM), polyaluminum chloride (PAC), and CS, was evaluated and compared for treating emulsified oil wastewater. It was found that CS-g-PDBC exhibited excellent flocculation performance under both acidic and neutral conditions, while CS showed better flocculation ability under alkaline condition. The flocculation mechanism of CS and CS-g-PDBC was investigated via zeta potential measurements. Results showed that different flocculation mechanisms were involved at various pH levels. As regarding CS, the flocculation mechanism is mainly charge neutralization, patching, and sweep floc under acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions, respectively, while for CS-g-PDBC, patching was the dominant mechanism under both acidic and neutral conditions.     

Experimental Study of Asphaltenes Flocculation Onset in Crude Oils Using the Densitometry Measurement Technique

The asphaltenes flocculation proceeds with changes of oil composition and causes significant losses in petroleum industry operations. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the reliability of the densitometry technique in studying experimentally the mechanism of aggregation and flocculation of asphaltenes occurring in crude oils. As asphaltene flocculation threshold in crude oils or mixture can be achieved by addition of n-heptane, various n-heptane concentrations were added to crude oil, and their effects have been investigated trough density measurements. Thereby, measurements were based on mixture of crude oil + toluene and cyclohexane + n-heptane, respectively. While asphaltene aggregates form clusters and flocculate, the mixture volumetric mass change and the reduced density of non-Newtonian fluids under investigation have been pointed out as one of appropriate measures of flocculation process. In particular, the curve representing the reduced density as function of the ratio between n-heptane concentration and concentration of crude oil under study featured a break point that well characterizes the flocculation threshold. Besides the quantity needed to initiate and to aggregate asphaltenes within crude oils, the amount required to completely achieve deposition of asphaltenes has also been identified. A quantity of 4 and 20 g of n-heptane per gram of crude oil was found necessary.     

Ammonium persulfate-initiated polymerization of cationic starch-grafted-cationic polyacrylamide flocculant for the enhanced flocculation of oil sludge suspension

In this study, a novel, highly efficient and environmentally friendly flocculant, namely, cationic starch-grafted-cationic polyacrylamide (CS-g-CPAM), was synthesized by initiation polymerization of ammonium persulfate. First, CS-g-CPAM was polymerized with cationic starch(CS), acrylamide(AM) and diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC), and then the influence factors of graft polymerization were investigated, including total monomer concentration, initiator dosage, the monomer mass ratio of m_AM: m_CS: m_DMDAAC, post-polymerization temperature and post-polymerization time. And the intrinsic viscosity of the CS-g-CPAM was measured by the one point method accurately. The chemical structures and morphology of the samples were characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo-gravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The CS-g-CPAM was utilized to flocculate the oil sludge suspension, the effects of CS-g-CPAM dosage, temperature and pH value on the flocculation performance were investigated. The results show that CS-g-CPAM has outstanding flocculation effect.     

Comparison of stages in oil agglomeration process of quartz with sodium oleate in the presence of Ca(II) and Mg(II) ions

The oil agglomeration of quartz with sodium oleate in the presence of calcium and magnesium ions comprises three consecutive stages: adsorption of cations onto quartz surfaces, which leads to coagulation of the suspension, shear flocculation with sodium oleate and finally, agglomeration of flocs by kerosene. The effects of pH and cation concentration on these stages were investigated and the results were presented comparatively. It was found that all the stages of oil agglomeration of quartz exhibited sharp dependences on pH and cation concentration. That is, these stages generally took place in the pH and concentration ranges in which hydroxy complexes of the cations existed in the suspension. In the case of magnesium ion, the coagulation, shear flocculation and especially oil agglomeration of quartz improved after precipitation of hydroxide. These species of calcium and magnesium ions formed at high pH were adsorbed on the negatively charged surface of quartz, as a result of which the adsorption of sodium oleate became possible and thus the shear flocculation of the particles was achieved. Thereafter, the hydrophobic quartz flocs could be agglomerated by kerosene as bridging liquid. The increase in the shear flocculation efficiency depending on the increase of surface hydrophobicity enhanced the oil agglomeration of quartz with kerosene. The maximum recoveries for all the stages of the quartz were obtained in the presence of 10(-3) M magnesium and 5x10(-3) M calcium ions at pH 11. However, some differences in the behavior of shear flocculation and oil agglomeration of quartz suspension were observed above 10(-3) M concentration of magnesium ion.     

Separation and analysis of aluminium(III) by cation exchange ion chromatography

A method for the determination of aluminium(III) ions based on separation by cation exchange column chromatography and detection by conductivity detector has been developed. It is fast and reliable, and can be used for the separation and analysis of aluminium(III) ions from other metal ions like Mg(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Ca(II), Sr(II), rare earth elements like Lu(III), Tm(III), and Gd(III), which are eluted at different times and so do not interfere. Effect of p-phenylene diamine concentration present in the eluent, presence of other metal ions and effect of various anions present in the injection sample on the separation and analysis of aluminium(III) ions have also been studied.     

Coordination properties of polymeric azacrown ethers

New polymeric aza-crown ethers (PACE), soluble in water and organic solutions and cross-linked ones, containing different macrocycles in side chains have been synthesised by polymerisation and chemical modification reactions. The coordination próperties of these PACE are studied. It is shown that during coordination of the VO²⁺, Cu²⁺ ions with PACE, cross-linking of macromolecules by metal ions takes place by “sandwich” complex formation. The character of complexes distribution along PACE coils may be equal or nonequal, depending on polymer reactivity. The synthesised PACE are used as high specific polymer reagents for colloid rare metals recovery. It is shown that flocculation of negatively charged inorganic sols with PACE is due to electrostatic adsorption and specific binding. In acid and neutral media, dispersions of gold, silver, copper ferrocyanide and silicon dioxide undergo high flocculation as a result of non-specific electrostatic adsorption. Alkaline media provide conditions for donor-acceptor binding, increasing flocculation selectivity. In the uncharged state (pH 11,2) PACE exhibit high selectivity in binding gold particles. Stability of colloidal dispersions in the presence of monomer aza-crown ether (ACE) indicates an important polymer influence on the fine metal particles flocculation.     

Computer Simulation of Bridging Flocculation Processes: The Role of Colloid to Polymer Concentration Ratio on Aggregation Kinetics

The flocculation of colloidal particles by adsorbing polymers is one of the central issues of colloid science and a very important topic in many industrial, biological, and environmental processes. We report a computer simulation study of a 2- and 3-dimensional model for bridging flocculation betweenlarge linear polymer chains and comparatively small colloidal particles,where the structure and growth kinetics of cluster formation are investigated. This model was developed within the framework of the cluster–cluster aggregation model using mass and fractal dimension dependent diffusion constants, where bridging flocculation is seen as a case of heterocoagulation in which, in addition, macromolecule configurations and lengths play an important role. The simulation of aggregate structure and formation kinetics obtained at different (i) relative particle concentrations, (ii) polymer chain conformations, and (iii) sticking probabilities are described from a qualitatively and quantitative point of view. The results suggest that the formation of large aggregates is a slow process, controlled by the reactivity of the clusters, even when the reaction between microcolloids and macrochains is very fast. Aggregation kinetics are strongly dependent on the particle/chain concentration ratio and on the configurational properties of the chains. It is shown that the scaling laws which are valid for homocoagulation processes are also applicable to the kinetics of bridging flocculation. The corresponding scaling exponents have been calculated.