Abstract

Micellar radical polymerization of a short‐chain polyester macromonomer, polycaprolactone choline iodide ester methacrylate (PCLnChMA), is used to produce a new cationic flocculant that becomes more hydrophobic in response to hydrolytic degradation. The cationic tips of the comb‐like poly(PCL3ChMA) accelerate the settling rate of oil sands tailings, while partial hydrolysis of the polyester grafts reveals the hydrophobic segments that reduce capillary suction time by 30%. This technology combines the material properties of polyesters with the productivity of radical polymerization to make dual functional flocculants with characteristics that can be easily tuned to control flocculation performance, such as polymeric cation density, hydrophobic content, and polymer architecture. image

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