STUDY OF SOME FLOCCULATING PROCESSES WITH CATIONIC POLYELECTROLYTES

The flocculating efficiency of two cationic polyelectrolytes with quat ernary ammonium salt groups in the main chain, with different branchin g degrees, on a bentonitic clay suspension, in comparison with polyacr ylamide (PAM) was followed. The cationic polymer with a smaller branch ing degree operated similar to PAM. In both cases a purification of 10 0% was achieved. When the cationic polymer with a higher branching deg ree was used, a stabilization effect on the suspension was observed. T he flocculating activity of the mixtures of the cationic polymer and p olyacrylamide was also studied.