INFLUENCE OF FLOCCULANT TYPE ON STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF FLOCS IN CLAY-SALT SUSPENSIONS

Abstract

The results of studies on the effect of the flocculant type on the strength characteristics of floccules in clay-salt suspensions, obtained using a laser analyzer of particle size Lasentec D600L FBRM systems were presented in the article. The coefficients of strength and reduction of aggregates formed by polyacrylamide and its anionic and cationic copolymers were determined. Increasing the speed of mixing by using of polymers various types leads to the destruction of the formed aggregates in the flocculated suspension. The size of flocs induced by a cationic flocculant is reduced from 250 to 110 mm, for anionic and non-ionic flocculants - from 500 to 250 mm. The dependence of floc strength on the macromolecules adsorption mechanism on a solid surface was established. The decrease in hydrodynamic effects entails the partial restoration of floccules. It was shown that the recovery of flocs for all studied polymers was limited, which indicates a significant irreversibility of the aggregates destruction process. When using cationic flocculant, the ability to restore the aggregates is 2.5 times lower compared to anionic and non-ionic polymers. For nonionic and anionic polymers, the dependence of flocs coefficients of strength and recovery on the flocculant dosage was established. Dosage of cationic polymer does not affect these indicators. The dynamics of flocculation, destruction and reflocculation processes using various flocculants was considered. The influence of the charge type and polymer consumption on the mechanism of particles interaction was established. The potential possibility of using the obtained results to improve the technology of potassium chloride production at the stages of thickening and dehydrating clay-salt sludge was shown.