Synthesis and flocculation characteristics of cationic modified corncob: A novel polymeric flocculant

Yanhua Pang, Yongsheng Ding, Jie Chen, Weimin Gong

Center of Food Inspection, Liaoning Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Dalian, China.
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, China.
College of Ocean Environment and Engineering, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China.

DOI: 10.4236/as.2013.49B004                

Abstract

 A novel organic polymeric flocculant was synthesized by grafting cationic etherifying monomer (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (CHPTAC) onto the backbone of corncob powder (CP,F≤ 30mm). The synthetic reaction between CP and CHPTAC was initiated by hydroxyl radical made from Fenton reagent(H₂O₂-FeSO₄). The alkalization process andsynthetic reaction conditions were optimized byva- rying several parameters affecting grafting efficiency, such as NaOH dose, monomer concentration, reaction temperature and time and distilled water dose. The synthesized cationicflocculant was characterized by elemental analysis,Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer andscanning electron microscope techniques. Itwas concluded that the backbone of CP have been grafted cationic etherifying monomer. The flocculation characteristics in 0.25% (w/v) kaolin suspensions was compared with some of thecommercial flocculants available in markets,and the results demonstrated the synthesized cationic flocculation has superiority as a novel flocculant.

Keywords

Flocculation; Corncob; Polymeric

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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