KINETIC-MODELS OF SUSPENSION FLOCCULATION BY POLYMERS

A comparison of mathematical models that describe the kinetics of flocculation of a suspension is presented. The models enable us to describe the process over a wide time interval, including late stages, and to find values of the kinetic constants. This provides the possibility of calculating the relationships of the flee number in the system and of the number of primary particles in a hoc with time and with the initial coverage of the particle surface with flocculant. The agreement between the kinetic models and experimental data for the flocculation of polystyrene latex by poly(methyl vinyl pyridine) is shown. The model that takes both the changing flee surface coverage with polymer during flocculation and the flee break-up into account, has the highest accuracy.