FLOCCULATION BEHAVIOR OF SOME CATIONIC POLYELECTROLYTES

The settling rates and adsorption isotherms produced by a variety of s uites of cationic polyelectrolytes in 3% kaolin suspensions were measu red. Settling rates increased with molar mass even for low-mass, high- charge polymers. The very high settling rates produced by cationic cop olymers of acrylamide decreased as the charge density of the polymer u sed increased. Hydrolysis of unbuffered polymers occurred over time an d produced large changes in the effectiveness of the polymers. This is attributed to conformational changes. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc .