SUSPENSION FLOCCULATION BY POLYELECTROLYTES - EXPERIMENTAL-VERIFICATION OF A DEVELOPED MATHEMATICAL-MODEL

Using experimental data of AgI sol and poly(2-methyl-5-vinyl-pyridine) chloride, we show that there is good agreement between the developed mathematical model of suspension flocculation by polyelectrolytes and the experimental data. The rate constants of bridging and nonbridging aggregation of particles and of flee breakup, as well as their ratios, have been determined. It has been shown that the role of the nonbridg ing mechanism, as compared with that of the bridging one, diminishes w hen molecular mass of polyelectrolyte increases from 1.4 X 10(5) to 9. 3 X 10(5). (C) 1997 Academic Press.