Insights into kaolin clay flocculation by cationic tapioca starch by analysis of variance and floc fractal dimension

The flocculation performance of two cationic starches with different charge densities with kaolin clay was investigated by a statistically designed set of small angle light scattering experiments. The analysis of variance of the results showed that shear and starch concentration were important factors affecting the floc size for both starches. The temperature was found to be a significant factor only for the higher charge density cationic starch S880. The combination effect of NaCl and starch concentration and that of temperature and starch were found to be significant for the floc size of the S880 system. The combination effect of shear rate and NaCl was found to be significant for the floc size induced by the low charge density S858.

Automated summary

This study investigated the flocculation performance of two cationic starches with different charge densities with kaolin clay through small angle light scattering experiments. The results showed that shear and starch concentration were important factors affecting the floc size for both starches. Additionally, temperature was found to be significant only for the higher charge density cationic starch S880, while the combination effects of NaCl and starch concentration, as well as temperature and starch, were significant for the floc size of the S880 system. The combination effect of shear rate and NaCl was found to be significant for the floc size induced by the low charge density S858.