Effect of polymer-surfactant adsorption on the hindered settling of a mineral suspension

Competitive adsorption between anionic surfactant (SDS) and neutral poly(et hylene oxide) polymers (PEO) on carbonate mine tailings was investigated, w ith experiments being performed to check the order of reagent addition. The PEO adsorption plateaux were strongly affected by the presence of pre-adso rbed surfactant molecules, while surfactant adsorption increased in the pre sence of preadsorbed polymer, Polymer-surfactant interaction at the solid-l iquid interface depended on the order of reagent addition which significant ly affected the floc diameter. Increasing floc diameter was attributed to t he formation of a polymer-surfactant complex on the solid surface.