Polymeric Flocculants Research Articles

COPOLYMER BASED ON [(3-METHACRYLOYLAMINO)PROPYL] TRIMETHYLAMMONIUM CHLORIDE AS A FLOCCULANT FOR INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENT

The using of polymeric flocculants in the development of the oil industry in Kazakhstan is one of the innovative tasks. Therefore, the creation of new effective flocculants based on available industrial monomers with structure-forming is an urgent task. The mechanism of action of flocculants is based on the phenomenon of adsorption of flocculant molecules on the surface of colloidal particles, the formation of a network structure of flocculant molecules, and the adhesion of colloidal particles due to van der Waals and other forces. New polymeric flocculant with different molar composition was synthesized by radical copolymerization [(3-methacryloylamino)propyl]trimethylammonium chloride (TMAPMACh) with N,N-dimethyl-acrylamide (DMAA) at 333 K in the presence of ammonium persulfate, (NH4)2S2O8 as an initiator. The molar composition of the synthesized TMAPMACh-DMAA copolymer was determined by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy and conductometric titration with AgNO3 solution. The flocculation properties of the copolymers were studied by measuring the sedimentation of dispersed particles of bentonite suspension in the presence of the flocculant. Sedimentation degree was determined by measuring the optical density of the suspension. It was found that TMAPMACh-DMAA copolymers had a flocculating effect and could be used for industrial wastewater treatment. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that this copolymer was thermally stable up to 270°C. Therefore, it can be used in deep well drilling to regulate the properties of drilling fluids.

Multifaceted Impact of Lipid Extraction on the Characteristics of Polymer-Based Sewage Sludge towards Sustainable Sludge Management.

Dewatered sludge (DS) is a sewage sludge with a unique property due to extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) and polymer flocculants. These components form a stable 3D polymer network to increase dewatering efficiency, leaving behind valuable materials such as lipids. This article explored the influences of DS particle size on lipid yield and the effects of extraction on the chemical, morphological, and thermal properties of the residual dewatered sludge (RDS). Lipid yields with unimodal distribution were observed across the particle size ranges (<0.5, 0.5-1.0, 1.0-2.0, 2.0-4.0, and 4.0 mm). The highest lipid yield of 1.95% was extracted from 1.0-2.0 mm after 4 h at 70 °C and 0.1 g/mL sludge-to-solvent ratio. Efficiency was influenced by the DS's morphology, facilitating solvent infiltration and pore diffusion. The extraction process reduced water and organic fractions, resulting in higher thermal stability. Bibliometric analysis of "extraction*" and "sewage sludge" shows increasing research interest from 1973 to 2024. Five research clusters were observed: heavy metal speciation and stabilization, sludge and its bioavailability, extraction techniques and resource recovery, contaminants remediation, as well as phosphorus recovery and agricultural applications. These clusters highlight the diverse approaches to researching DS and RDS while promoting sustainable waste management.

Enhancement in Dewatering Efficiency of Disrupted Sludge through Ultrasonication and Re-Flocculation—Sustainable Sludge Management

The solids in sewage sludge are primarily composed of organic matter and offer new possibilities for sustainable sludge management, if considered as a stable biomass source in terms of quantity and quality. Reducing the volume of sludge with an extremely high moisture content is challenging, and enhanced dewatering through mechanical treatment is crucial from an environmental and sustainability perspective because it alleviates the reliance on thermal treatment. This study employed ultrasonication to enhance the dewatering efficiency of activated sludge. The disruption of sludge induced by ultrasonication notably facilitated the elimination of intracellular water during mechanical expression. Additionally, the ultrasonicated sludge was verified to be re-flocculated by introducing inorganic electrolytes such as Ca2+ (divalent cations), Al3+ (trivalent cations), and polyferric sulfate. Conversely, no re-flocculation of disrupted sludge was observed upon applying organic polymer flocculant. Under optimized conditions, the sludge re-flocculation progressed to form large flocs, leading to a decreased suspended solids (SS) value from 1423 to 73 mg/L and reduction in capillary suction time (CST) from over 2000 to 18 s. Following pretreatment, the moisture content of the mechanically expressed cake at 500 kPa decreased significantly from 76 wt% (untreated sludge) to less than 60 wt% (treated sludge) due to the elimination of intracellular water.

Preparation of polymeric aluminum chloride from secondary aluminum dross and its water purification effect

ABSTRACT Aluminum dross is solid waste generated by the aluminum industry. Currently, a large amount of aluminum dross is produced annually year. Aluminum dross, a hazardous waste, contains harmful substances such as aluminum metal, aluminum nitride, fluoride and chlorine salts, which pose a serious threat to human health and also cause damage to the ecological environment. Thus, it is important to recycle secondary aluminum dross and realise its high-value utilisation. Polymeric aluminum chloride (PAC) is a polymer flocculant, at present, China's annual use of PAC in the field of water treatment is about 5 × 105 t, and with the continuous improvement of water purification requirements, the annual use of PAC increased year by year. Here secondary aluminum dross was used as a raw material to prepare PAC by hydrochloric acid (HCl) leaching, followed by the addition of sodium carbonate. The optimal conditions for the acid leaching of secondary aluminum dross for the preparation of PAC were as follows: HCl concentration, 18%; liquid-to-solid ratio, 4.5:1; stirring rate, 200 r/min; reaction temperature, 90 °C; and 60 min. An aluminum leaching rate of 85.5% was obtained under these conditions. The results showed that the acid leachate after adding sodium carbonate, under the conditions of polymerisation temperature of 70 °C, polymerisation time of 6 h, and polymerisation pH value of 3.0, the PAC prepared had an alumina content of 10.19%, salinity of 32.37%, density of 1.32 g/cm3, 1% aqueous solution pH 4.3. The water purification effect of the prepared PAC surpassed that of the commercially available PAC. The utilisation of secondary aluminum dross can reduce the environmental pollution caused by aluminum slag.

A laboratory investigation for assessing the effectiveness of wastewater treatment using flocculation process in building stone processing industry on stone surface quality and abrasive tool wear

In this study, the effect of presence and concentration of two synthetic polymeric flocculants with different charging mechanisms (anionic and cationic) on surface quality and abrasive tool wear in polishing process of building stones was investigated. The polishing tests were performed in laboratory scale on two stone samples (granite and marble). An index, entitled improvement index (I) was defined for evaluating the effectiveness of flocculants on surface quality and abrasive tool wear. The results revealed that flocculation process had a noticeable effect on enhancement of surface quality and reduction of abrasive tool wear for both stone samples. The cationic flocculant was more effective for granite sample and anionic flocculant was more effective for marble sample. The granite particles mainly exhibit negative surface charge while the marble particles have positive surface charge in the pH range of wastewater used for polishing tests. Therefore, charge neutralization mechanism plays a major role in flocculation process of granite and marble samples. It was found that the use of flocculation process for treatment of wastewater in stone processing plants leads to increase of abrasive tool lifespan and more high-quality products.

A systematic investigation of peracetic acid oxidation and polymeric coagulants re-flocculation to enhance activated sludge dewatering: Multi-porous skeleton structures

In this research, the effects of peracetic acid (PAA), polymeric flocculants, and their combined conditioning on improving the dewatering performance were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that sludge cake moisture content, capillary suction time (CST), and specific resistance to filtration (SRF) were 70.6%, 48.1 s, and 3.42 × 1012 m/kg after adding 0.10 g/gMLSS PAA for 50 min, representing reductions of 12.60%, 40.32%, and 33.98%, respectively. Additionally, conditioning of sludge with polyferric sulfate (PFS), polyaluminum chloride (PAC), and cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) enhanced sludge properties in the following order: CPAM > PAC > PFS. After the PAA oxidation and re-flocculation process, the optimal dosages of PFS, PAC, and CPAM were reduced to 1.5 g/L, 0.9 g/L, and 0.04 g/L, respectively. The sludge dewatering performance significantly improved, with sludge cake moisture content measuring 65.8%, 66.3%, and 61.7%, respectively. Moreover, the spatial multi-porous skeleton structures were formed via re-flocculation to improve the sludge dewatering. Furthermore, economic evaluation validated that the pre-oxidation and re-flocculation process could be considered an economically viable option. These research findings could serve as a valuable reference for practical engineering applications.

Polymeric flocculation of oil sands tailings: Unveiling rheological indicators and dynamics of bitumen release

Polymeric flocculation of oil sands tailings: Unveiling rheological indicators and dynamics of bitumen release

Cleaning the Electroerosive Machining Wastewater with some Polyacrylamide-Based Flocculants

The granulometric composition of the metal/scale suspensions formed at electroerosive machining (EEM) of metal items made of the ST-10 steel has been determined to evaluate the need for a flocculant for the suspension particles extraction and decontamination of the machining working fluid. Even though most suspension particles are large enough and quickly self-precipitate, some particles are too small (sized 6 µm or less) and form quite stable suspensions, requiring additional flocculants to be extracted. Pure polyacrylamide with a molecular weight of 4-5*106 atomic units and an anionic polymer flocculant BESFLOC-4041 were considered as decontamination agents for the metal/scale suspensions. It was found that the latter agent is more effective, and it ensures the effective decontamination of an EEM working fluid. An admixture of 0.05 g/L of BESFLOC-4041 ensures effective clarification (with the decontamination efficiency of 90-95 %) of the metal/scale suspension with a dispersed phase concentration of up to 1.0 g/L. The flocculation efficiency of polyacrylamimde is lower (67-85 %) and its best performance is achieved at the concentration of 0.08 g/L.

Experimental investigation on sedimentation characteristics of coastal slurry by flocculation

Coastal waste slurry has a negative impact on the environment due to its slow, natural settling characteristics. In this study, the organic, inorganic, and composite flocculants were applied to improve the mud-water separation performance. A series of experiments with sedimentation columns and particle size analysis were conducted to investigate the effects of flocculant type, dosage and combination on slurry settling rates and its associated mechanisms. The experimental results show that different types of flocculants varied in improving the settling efficiency of slurry, while the flocculation effect of inorganic flocculants is relatively poor. The settling efficiency of organic polymer flocculants on slurry is in order of anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) > cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) > nonionic polyacrylamide (PAM), with their optimal dosage 0.2%, 0.1%, and 0.1%, respectively. Moreover, the combination of APAM and Solid Polymeric Ferric Sulfate (SPFS) can further improve the efficiency of mud-water separation by enhancing electro-neutralization and net sweeping capability. Subsequently, the change in the particle size distribution of the slurry demonstrates that flocculation causes the aggregation of fine particles in slurry to form coarse particles. These findings have implications for improving the sedimentation characteristics of waste slurry to reduce environmental pollution.

Enhanced Coagulation for Algae Removal Using Composite Al-Based Coagulants: Collaborative Optimization Mechanism of Aluminum Morphology

The main purpose of this paper was to reveal the effect of aluminum (Al)-based coagulants on enhanced coagulation for the removal of algae and the synergistic optimization mechanism among different Al species. The formation, breakage, and regrowth processes of algal coagulation flocs formed by a series of monomeric Al-based coagulants (Al2(SO4)3, Al13, and Al30), Al13/Al30 composite coagulant and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)/Al13 (PDADMAC/Al13) composite coagulant were studied. Results indicated that Al13 mainly employed a charge neutralization mechanism, which was conducive to the destabilization of algae and the regeneration of flocs, while Al30 mainly employed a sweep flocculation mechanism, which was conducive to the formation of algae and the strength of flocs. Meanwhile, the charge neutralization was the main mechanism during the algae coagulation process because it could effectively remove the soluble microbial products (SMP) component in the extracellular organic matter (EOM). Therefore, Al13 could achieve a higher coagulation performance than other monomeric Al-based coagulants. The Al13/Al30 composite coagulant could make up for the deficiency of the sweep flocculation mechanism in Al13 and charge neutralization mechanism in Al30, and achieve the best synergistic optimization performance at Al13:Al30-7:3. Additionally, PDADMAC, as a polymer, could further enhance the charge neutralization ability of Al13 at low dosages and the sweep flocculation ability of Al13 at high dosages, respectively. However, an excessive dosage would lead to charge reversal and thus reduce the coagulation effect. Therefore, controlling the dosage was key when using Al-composite coagulants. The findings of our research could offer a certain theoretical foundation for the development of inorganic polymer flocculants.

Deep learning-based flocculation sensor for automatic control of flocculant dose in sludge dewatering processes during wastewater treatment

In sludge dewatering of most wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), the dose of polymer flocculant is manually adjusted through direct visual inspection of the flocs without the aid of any instruments. Although there is a demand for the development of automatic control of flocculant dosing, this has been challenging owing to the lack of a reliable flocculation sensor. To address this issue, this study developed a novel image sensor for measuring the degree of flocculation (DF) based on deep learning. Two types of sludge samples were used in the laboratory-scale flocculation tests: excess sludge and mixtures of excess sludge and raw wastewater. To search for a deep learning regression model suitable for DF inference, ten models, including convolutional neural networks, vision transformers, and a multilayer perceptron MLP mixer, were comparatively analysed. The ConvNeXt and MLP mixer models showed the highest accuracies with coefficients of determination (R2) greater than 0.9. The region contributing to the DF inference in the flocculation images was visualised using a modulus-weighted, gradient-weighted regression activation map. A prototype of the flocculation sensor was constructed using an inexpensive EdgeAI device. This device comprises a single-board computer and an integrated graphical processing unit (GPU) and is equipped with a quantised ConvNeXt model. The maximum inference speed of the sensor was 12.8 frames per second (FPS). The flocculation control tests showed that the sensor could control the DF to the target value by adjusting the polymer flocculant dose. Therefore, the flocculation sensor can provide a data-driven approach to the management of the flocculation process, thereby facilitating the automation of WWTPs.

Acrylamide Cross‐Linked Psyllium Polysaccharide with Improved Flocculation Performance for the Removal of Microplastics from Water

AbstractThis article presents a novel material of acrylamide (AM) cross‐linked psyllium polysaccharides (PLP) derivative, PLP‐AM, which can be used as an effective polymeric flocculant for the removal of microplastics (MP) from water. PLP‐AM was produced by radical polymerization of PLP and AM using microwave irradiation instead of conventional radical initiators. The characterization of PLP‐AM was carried out by FT‐IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, intrinsic viscosity measurement and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were utilized to examine the flocculation performance of PLP‐AM. The optimum flocculation conditions were obtained by the comprehensive exploration of flocculant concentration, solution pH and temperature. In a solution with a pH 6 at 30 °C, the maximum removal percentages of PS and PVC by 60 mg/L of PLP‐AM were 92.55 % and 94.31 %, respectively, while 93.85 % of the maximum removal of PET percentage could be obtained by 80 mg/L of PLP‐AM. The results of zeta potential measurement revealed that there was adsorption electric neutralization between MP and PLP‐AM besides the adsorption bridging mechanism. These results suggest that PLP‐AM may bring an inspiration for the development of polymer flocculant to remove MP from water.

Use of an acrylamide-based anionic polymer for the concentration and removal of Giardia duodenalis cysts from high-turbidity water samples

The increasing investigation into environmental contamination by Giardia spp. cysts and its impact on public health has spurred interest in developing more sensitive methods for detecting these protozoa, particularly in water. However, these methods remain complex and costly. This study evaluated the concentration and removal efficiency of Giardia duodenalis cysts using an acrylamide-based anionic flocculant polymer (AFP) in filter backwash water samples from a water treatment plant (WTP) located in Blumenau City, southern Brazil, and compared them with the calcium carbonate flocculation technique (CCF), which is routinely used for water matrices with high turbidity. The average recovery rates of G. duodenalis cysts using CCF and AFP were 33.33% and 43.33%, respectively, with an average turbidity reduction of 98.39% and 98.78%. The use of an anionic flocculant polymer proved to be an efficient alternative for the concentration and removal of protozoan cysts in water samples with high turbidity. It is important to highlight that the development and application of new studies and strategies aimed at increasing the efficiency of the removal of these organisms from complex environmental matrices would bring benefits to public health and promote a One Health perspective. Keywords: cyst recovery, high turbidity, water.

Cultivation of Microalgae (Scenedesmus sp.) Using Coal Mining Wastewater and Separation via Coagulation/Flocculation and Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)

Algae growth can be carried out in treated mine waters, providing biomass and helping to achieve the standards for water discharge. However, efficient separation of algae from the aqueous medium is crucial. The present work investigated the stability of Scenedesmus sp. in treated acid drainage from coal mining and assessed the harvesting of microalgae via coagulation/flocculation and dissolved air flotation (DAF). Successful algae growth was achieved, with cells remaining suspended in the water at a wide range of pH values, requiring the use of reagents for destabilization/aggregation. Algae coagulation/flocculation was attained with the use of tannin or ferric chloride associated with an anionic polymer flocculant at a pH of 8.0 ± 0.1. When combined with the flocculant, both tannin and the inorganic coagulant proved effective in enhancing floc stability and hydrophobicity for the DAF process. In summary, this operational approach facilitated algae biomass recovery and significantly reduced turbidity in the treated water. Finally, a schematic diagram illustrating the algae cultivation and harvesting process is presented, offering a practical alternative to acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment refinement associated with algae biomass production.

Polymeric Flocculation as a Sustainable Solution for Heavy Metal Removal from Leachate in Barka Landfill, Oman

Purpose: This study investigates the effectiveness of polymeric flocculation in removing heavy metals from leachate through filtration, sedimentation, and precipitation, aiming to separate and eliminate particulate matter. to separate and remove particulate matter. Method: This study investigated the use of alum and chitosan to remove heavy metals from leachate. The addition of a polymeric flocculant, chitosan, promoted the formation of stable flocs, which effectively removed heavy metals. Chitosan, a natural biopolymer, was found to be a promising alternative to synthetic polymers. Main Findings: The experimental results demonstrated that alum outperformed chitosan in terms of removing heavy metals. Under optimal conditions, an alum dosage of 6 mg/l at a pH of 6.23 resulted in copper and magnesium removal efficiencies of 84% and 92%, respectively. In contrast, the optimal chitosan dosage was 8 mg/l at a pH of 7.5, with copper and magnesium removal efficiencies of 43.1% and 91.8%, respectively. Implications: Leachate treatment reduces heavy metals and organic compounds, controls odors, and generates foam indicating the presence of gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These gases can be harnessed for clean energy production and green hydrogen development. harnessed for clean energy production and green hydrogen development. Novelty: This study is the first to scientifically analyze leachate treatment at the Barka landfill. Chitosan, a natural polymer, effectively removes suspended matter and heavy metals, reducing their concentrations. removes suspended matter and heavy metals, reducing their concentrations.

Enhanced biomethane production from Scenedesmus sp. using polymer harvesting and expired COVID-19 disinfectant for pretreatment

This study evaluates the repurposing of expired isopropanol (IPA) COVID-19 disinfectant (64% w/w) to pretreat algal biomass for enhancing methane (CH4) yield. The impact of harvesting methods (centrifugation and polymer flocculation) and microwave pretreatment on CH4 production from Scenedesmus sp. microalgal biomass were also investigated. Results show minimal impact of harvesting methods on the CH4 yield, with wet centrifuged and polymer-harvested biomass exhibiting comparable and low CH4 production at 66 and 74 L/kgvolatile solid, respectively. However, microalgae drying significantly increased CH4 yield compared to wet biomass, attributed to cell shrinkage and enhanced digestibility. Consequently, microwave and IPA pretreatment significantly enhanced CH4 production when applied to dried microalgae, yielding a 135% and 212% increase, respectively, compared to non-pretreated wet biomass. These findings underscore the advantage of using dried Scenedesmus sp. over wet biomass and highlight the synergistic effect of combining oven drying with IPA treatment to boost CH4 production whilst reducing COVID-19 waste.

A Novel Method of Synthesizing Polymeric Aluminum Ferric Sulfate Flocculant and Preparing Red Mud-Based Ceramsite.

A synthetic flocculant of aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) extracted from red mud (RM) has been widely used in sewage treatment, while the remaining RM residue has been ignored. This study aimed to synthesize polymeric aluminum ferric sulfate (PAFS) flocculant from RM by acid leaching and then use the acidified RM residue to produce an acid RM-based ceramsite (ARMC) by mixing bentonite, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and starch. Our results showed that sintering, reaction temperature, H2SO4 concentration, reaction time, and liquid-to-solid ratio had an obvious effect on the leaching of Al and Fe in RM, which was a necessary prerequisite for the efficient PAFS flocculants. At a PAFS dosage of 60 mg/L, turbidity and phosphate removal rates were 95.21 ± 0.64% and 89.17 ± 0.52%, respectively. When the pH value was 8.0, the turbidity and phosphate removal efficiency were 99.22 ± 0.66% and 95.98 ± 1.63%, respectively. Considering the adsorption capacity and mechanical properties, the best conditions for ARMC production included using 60% ARM and ceramsite calcination at 600 °C, with the BET surface area 56.16 m2/g and a pore volume of 0.167 cm3/g. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that 400 °C was a reasonable preheating temperature to enhance the ARMC mechanical strength, as this temperature allows the removal of surface-adsorbed and constituent water. Under a scanning electron microscope, the ARMC appeared rough before adsorption, while relatively uniform pores occupied it after adsorption. Our conclusion will help to improve the zero-waste strategy of RM and speed up the industrial production of RM in flocculants as well as utilizing ARMC as a new type of adsorbent for phosphorus adsorption in sewage treatment.

Treatment of polluted river water using potential bioflocculant produced by Klebsiella pneumonia UKD24.

Chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) is a rapid wastewater treatment process involving treating wastewater with two chemical-aided processes, coagulation, and flocculation. In the present study, a natural extracellular polymeric substance flocculant (EPSBF) produced by Klebsiella pneumonia UKD24, a bacterium isolated from the sewage treatment plant, and a synthetic polyacrylamide anionic polymer flocculant (PAM) were evaluated to treat polluted river water. The synthetic PAM showed immediate turbidity reduction after agitation, while the EPSBF expressed a rapid decrease in optical density. After 20 min of the settling period, the EPSBF showed reduced rates of turbidity, optical density, and chemical oxygen demand at 74.14 ± 5.2%, 89.37 ± 0.76%, and 87.21 ± 0.73%, respectively, while PAM showed 67.08 ± 4%, 85.68 ± 2%, and 86.57 ± 2%, respectively. EPSBF treatment significantly improved the water quality parameters in terms of total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, conductivity, and oxidation-reduction potential than PAM treatment. However, the EPSBF has shown a more water-holding capacity and relatively weak flock formation, producing more sludge volume than PAM. Furthermore, though the sludge produced by the EPSBF treatment had a higher moisture content, it showed shorter capillary suction time (CST). In contrast, sludge formed in PAM treatment had lower moisture content, but it exhibited prolonged CST value indicating that PAM treatment sludge showed slow dewaterability.

Improving the quality of apple juice by using hydrodynamically activated polymer flocculants in the coagulation process

Improving the quality of apple juice by using hydrodynamically activated polymer flocculants in the coagulation process

Effect of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide on flocculation and filtration of bentonite suspensions

Separation of bentonite from wastewater is challenging because bentonite, is highly dispersible in water. Using cationic polymer flocculants has a high flocculation effect on bentonite. However, the flocculation mechanism is unclear. In this study, flocculation, filtration, and bentonite adsorption behavior are investigated using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as cationic small molecule; subsequently, the flocculation mechanism of bentonite is explored. The flocculation effect increases and the filtration time is reduced with increasing CTAB concentration. In particular, when more than 1500 ppm of CTAB is used, the filtration time is reduced to 2–3 min. Bentonite forms secondary flocculates after the formation of primary flocculates with increasing CTAB concentration. Additionally, the adsorption behavior reveals that CTAB is inserted between the layers, and it is excessively adsorbed on the bentonite surface. The increase CTAB concentration was effective in improving the shortening the filtration time owing to the formation of large bentonite flocculates.