Journal
LANGMUIR
Volume 24, Issue 24, Pages 14015-14021Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/la802537z
Keywords
-
Funding
- NSERC
Ask authors/readers for more resources
A nanocomposite polymer, Al(OH)(3)-polyacrylamide (Al-PAM) hybrid, was tested as a flocculant. This novel hybrid polymer was found to induce pellet-like floccules, leading to a more effective solid-liquid separation than common polyacrylamide (PAM)-based flocculants. To understand the mechanism of Al-PAM-induced pelleting flocculation, the molecular structure of this hybrid polymer was studied using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The interactions between Al-PAM molecules and a silica surface were measured using single molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS). The Al-PAM molecules were found to have a star-like structure with Al(OH)(3) colloidal particles as cores connecting PAM chains. The SMFS results showed a strong attachment of the Al(OH)(3) cores to the silica surface with an adhesion force of similar to 1250 pN, in contrast to a weaker adhesion force of only similar to 250 pN for PAM chains on the silica surface. The Al-PAM-induced pelleting flocculation is attributed to its star-like structure.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available