Development of novel polymeric flocculant based on grafted sodium alginatefor the treatment of coal mine wastewater

Sodium alginate-g-polyacrylamide (SAG) was synthesized by ceric ion induced redox polymerization technique. Six grades of graft copolymers were prepar ed by varying as well as monomer concentrations. The graft copolymers were characterized by intrinsic viscosity measurements, IR, and C-13-NMR spectro scopies. Of the above grades, the graft copolymer of grade six (SAG-VI), wh ich has longer polyacrylamide chains, was used for flocculation study. Two coking and noncoking coal fine suspensions were selected for the flocculati on study. The flocculation performance of the graft copolymer was compared with commercial flocculants. In all cases, it was found that the graft copo lymer showed better performance than the commercial flocculants. (C) 2001 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.