Polyacrylamide Na-kaolinite interactions: Effect of electrolyte concentration on polymer adsorption

The variation in polyacrylamide adsorption on Na-kaolinite as a function of the electrolyte concentration of the clay suspension, was determined under three pH conditions, where the clays display varying charge characteristics. Interpretation of the results is based on two arguments: non-charged polyacrylamide adsorption is restricted to the edge faces of the colloidal platelets and hydrogen bonding between the amide groups of the polymer and the isolated hydroxyl sites of these faces is the mode of surface attachment. At constant pH, when Na-kaolinite bears charged surface groups, the polymer adsorption, which is related to the density of the anchoring sites, parallels the state of ionization of the edge surface. The mechanism by which the salt modifies the adsorption properties of the kaolinite in neutral medium is not established with certainty. Nevertheless, no polymer-clay association occurs if the surface is entirely uncharged. This result is in line with the fact that while hydroxyl groups are engaged in internal hydrogen bonds, they cannot hydrogen-bond to the polyacrylamide. Variations in the clay-polymer affinity are attributed to a modification of the interfacial structure of the adsorbed polymer, associated with changes in the surface density of the anchoring groups.