title: Cyclodextrins modify the properties of cationic polyacrylamides.
abstract: The hydrodynamic diameter (D(h)) of cationic polyacrylamides (c-PAM) in water can either decrease or increase dramatically in the presence of small amounts of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). It is proposed that the CD partially disperses the charge on the polymer thereby promoting associations within or among neighboring polymer strands. Turbidity measurements show that beta-CD enhances the c-PAM induced flocculation of wood pulp fibers, which is in keeping with previous observations on sludge dewatering. The CD-polymer combinations that are the most effective for fiber flocculation are also those for which D(h) of the polymer is reduced the most. In situations where the CD compacts the c-PAM, the fiber network associated with the c-PAM is also compacted giving rise to a tighter floc.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Paper Science and Technology, School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 500 Tenth Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30332-0620, United States.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sujit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee