title: Effect of charge balance and dosage of polyelectrolyte complexes on the shear resistance of mineral floc strength and reversibility.
abstract: We evaluated the effect of polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) with varying balance of charges on the flocculation of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) particles. PECs composed of polyacrylamides carrying opposite charges (A-PAM and C-PAM) were investigated in terms of PCC floc shear resistance and re-flocculation effects. Light transmission was used in real time to monitor the dynamics of flocculation under shear fields. Compared to the single polyelectrolytes, PECs greatly enhanced particle re-flocculation while minor differences in shear resistance were observed. Shear resistance and re-flocculation depended strongly on the molecular weight and charge ratio of the PEC components. In order to achieve floc stability and re-flocculation conditions a minimum concentration of charge-asymmetric PEC should be applied.
authors.affiliation: Biobased Colloids and Materials Group (BiCMat), Department of Forest Products Technology, Aalto University, FI-16300, Finland. Electronic address: markus.korhonen@aalto.fi.
authors.forename: Markus H J
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.affiliation: Biobased Colloids and Materials Group (BiCMat), Department of Forest Products Technology, Aalto University, FI-16300, Finland.
authors.forename: Orlando J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: Biobased Colloids and Materials Group (BiCMat), Department of Forest Products Technology, Aalto University, FI-16300, Finland.
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laine
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005427:Flocculation; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D004573:Electrolytes; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
keywords: Flocculation; Polyelectrolyte complex; Precipitated calcium carbonate; Reversibility