Microwave initiated synthesis of polyacrylamide grafted Psyllium and its application as a flocculant

This paper reports a novel microwave initiated method for synthesis of polyacrylamide grafted Psyllium (Psy-g-PAM). Psyllium was modified through grafting of polyacrylamide (PAM) chains on it using microwave radiations only, in absence of any other free radical initiator. The grafting was confirmed by intrinsic viscosity study and characterization techniques like FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis (C, H, N, O and S) and SEM morphology study. Further, the flocculation efficacy of the synthesized graft copolymers was studied in kaolin and coal fine suspension through standard 'Jar test' procedure. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.