Novel flocculating agent based on sodium alginate and acrylamide

Graft copolymers of sodium alginate with polyacrylamide were synthesized using a eerie ion initiated solution polymerization technique at 27 +/- 1 degrees C. Six graft copolymers have been synthesized with a variation in the number and length of grafted polyacrylamide chains. The graft copolymers have been characterized by viscometry, IR spectroscopy, SEM and XRD study. Their flocculation characteristics were evaluated in 0.25 wt% kaolin and 10 wt% iron ore suspensions. The flocculation behaviour of one of the above grades has been studied on a I wt% coal suspension. The flocculation characteristics of these grafted polymers were also compared with various commercially available polymeric flocculants. Among the grafted alginates, it was observed that, the graft copolymers containing longer polyacrylamide chains were the most efficient. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.