Synergistic enhancement of fine-kaolinite-particle hydrophobic agglomeration by combining dodecylamine with octanoic acid

Abstract

Because it is difficult to hydrophobically agglomerate fine kaolinite particles to obtain stronger, larger flocs using only dodecylamine (DDA) as a flocculant, octanoic acid (OA) was used as a synergistic flocculant to improve DDA-induced fine-kaolinite particle agglomeration. Particle settlement tests were conducted to study flocculation and synergistic flocculation behaviours of fine kaolinite particles for different DDA and/or OA concentrations. Results showed that OA strengthened DDA-induced particle agglomeration. Aggregate sedimentation rates and Stokes’ equivalent diameters exceeded 21.7 m/h and 84.4 µm, respectively. A clearer kaolinite suspension was obtained and a more compact aggregate layer accumulated within 3 min. Contact angles and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to investigate kaolinite hydrophobicity before and after hydrophobisation and mechanisms of DDA and/or OA interactions with the kaolinite surface. Results suggested that faster sedimentation and larger equivalent-diameter aggregates were both related to significantly increased kaolinite-surface hydrophobicity. FTIR data confirmed that enhanced kaolinite surface hydrophobicity was owed to DDA and OA physisorption. The kaolinite micro-particle aggregation mechanism was analysed by SEM images. Kaolinite particle self-aggregation changed after OA was adsorbed on the kaolinite Si–O basal plane. Owing to DDA/OA synergistic effects, kaolinite particles hydrophobically agglomerated by actions of Al–O/Al–O and Al–O/Si–O faces, thereby promoting fine-kaolinite particle agglomeration and sedimentation. Study findings could lead to development of enhanced water-purification methods.