Flocculation Behavior of Terpolymer Prepared from Dimethyl Aminoethyl Methacrylate, Vinyl Pyrrolidone, and Vinyl Acetate Using Solution Polymerization Technique

Abstract

Terpolymer was prepared from dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) and vinyl acetate (VA) using solution polymerization technique in presence of new developed redox initiation system composed of potassium persulphate (KPS) as oxidizing agent and admixture of acetone sodium bisulphate (ASBS) and benzaldehyde sodium bisulphate (BSBS) as reducing one. The results showed that the rate of polymerization was found to be dependent on the initiator, and monomer concentrations to the powers 0.78, and 0.76, respectively. The activation energy of the reaction was found to be 12 KJ/mol. The FTIR and 1H-NMR spectra revealed the presence of the three monomers. Also, the thermal stability of the terpolymer was improved as the content of the DMAEMA increased. Tg of the terpolymer was increased by increasing VAc contents in the terpolymer composition. The obtained terpolymer solution was used as hybrid in river Nile clarification using flocculation technique. The clarified water was evaluated using pH, conductivity, turbidity, silica measurement, organic matter determination and sulphate content. The best flocculation was achieved using combination of terpolymer and alum dosage of 1 and 30 ppm, respectively.