Synthesis, characterization and flocculation efficiency of unique hybrid natural-synthetic smart flocculants based on poly (MAam)-chitosan nanoparticles graft copolymers
ISSN: 0369-9420
Article publication date: 17 February 2023
Issue publication date: 2 January 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the authors' previously prepared and fully characterized poly (methacrylamide)-chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) graft copolymer having 50.2% graft yield with respect to flocculation efficiency for ferric laurate aqueous dispersions. This was done to compare the ability of the latter cheap, biodegradable and ecofriendly hybrid natural-synthetic polymeric substrate as a flocculant in comparison with higher cost, nonbiodegradable and harmful polyacrylamide as a well-known synthetic flocculant counterpart.
Design/methodology/approach
The graft copolymerization process was carried out at 450°Cfor 120 min using (1.0 g) CNPs, methacrylamide (1.5 g), 100 mmol/l potassium chromate and 80 mmol/l mandelic acid. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis and specific viscosity were used to characterize and analyze the resultant copolymer. The flocculation efficiency was conferred in terms of transmittance % and weight removal %. The main factors influencing the flocculation process, such as flocculent dose, flocculation medium pH, stirring speed, flocculation temperature and grafting extent, were comprehensively discussed.
Findings
The flocculation efficiency of the prepared copolymers revealed the following findings: increased by increasing the flocculant dose, pH, temperature and stirring speed to a maximum values denoted at 30 ppm, 6.0, 30°C and 50 r/min, respectively, then decreased thereafter; increased by increasing the extent of grafting within the range studied; showed a comparable flocculation efficiency in comparison with polyacrylamide as a synthetic polymeric flocculent; and, finally, a preliminary bridging mechanism representing the attraction between the anionic suspended particles ferric laurate and cationic poly (MAam)-CNPs graft copolymer has been projected.
Originality/value
The advancement addressed here is undertaken with using the authors’ poly (MAam)-CNPs graft copolymers having different extent of grafting (a point which is not cited in the literature especially for the authors’ prepared copolymer) as a hybrid natural-synthetic polymeric substrate as a flocculant for ferric laurate aqueous dispersions in comparison with the high cost and nondegradable polyacrylamide synthetic flocculant.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank our laboratory staff in NIS for the facilities provided for helping and preparing chemicals and instruments for analysis.
Funding: There is no funding for this research.
Erratum: It has come to the attention of the publisher that the article “Synthesis, characterization and flocculation efficiency of unique hybrid natural-synthetic smart flocculants based on poly (MAam)-chitosan nanoparticles graft copolymers” by Mostafa, K., Ramadan, M. and El-Sanabary, A., published in Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, contained errors in the notes section for Figures 1 and 2. These errors were introduced during the production process and have now been corrected in the online version. The publisher sincerely apologises for this error and for any inconvenience caused.
Citation
Mostafa, K., Ramadan, M. and El-Sanabary, A. (2024), "Synthesis, characterization and flocculation efficiency of unique hybrid natural-synthetic smart flocculants based on poly (MAam)-chitosan nanoparticles graft copolymers", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 53 No. 1, pp. 44-52. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRT-02-2022-0016
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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