Blog: Owens Corning Fiberglass

Finally, we examined the morphological properties of the composite polymers using scanning electron microscopy (see Figure 4). The morphological features explain the microstructure of the composites in the solid phase and allow us to understand the appearance of the composites at microscopic level. For example, the dried polyacrylamide powder appears as a rigid solid with a smooth surface. In contrast, the MCPAM composite polymers appear as soft gel forms owing to their hydrophilicity. It is likely that the gel-like appearance is a result of water molecules chelated by the MgCl2 in the polymer composites. For MHPAM composite polymer, the distribution of Mg(OH)2 on the surface of polyacrylamide is not homogeneous. Instead, a hydrogen bonding network forms between the Mg(OH)2 and polyacrylamide molecules, leaving the Mg(OH)2 molecules adsorbed on the surface of the matrix. We are still investigating the how these morphological observations influence the mechanisms of wastewater treatment.

In summary, we have prepared and analyzed the thermal and morphological nature of magnesium/polyacrylamide polymer composites. MHPAM composite polymers displayed better thermal stability compared to their MCPAM counterparts. Additionally, the MCPAM composite polymers displayed a hygroscopic gel form. In future, we will test our composites in textile wastewater treatment and other industries that discharge high volumes of wastewater. Our composites should perform as flocculants, which improves upon the conventional two-stage coagulation/flocculation treatment process. With the application of our composites wastewater treatment processing time will be reduced.

Authors

References

1. Y. Wang, B. Gao, Q. Yue, J. Wei and Q. Li, The characterization and flocculation efficiency of composite flocculant iron salts-polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride, Chem. Eng. J. 142, pp. 175-181, 2008.
   
   
2. B.-Y. Gao, Y. Wang and Q.-Y. Yue, The chemical species distribution of aluminum in composite flocculants prepared from polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride (PDMDAAC), Acta Hydroch. Hydrob. 33, pp. 365-371, 2005.
   
   
3. B.-Y. Gao, Y. Wang, Q.-Y. Yue, J.-C. Wei and Q. Li, Color removal from simulated dye water and actual textile wastewater using a composite coagulant prepared by ployferric chloride and polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride, Sep. Purif. Technol. 54, pp. 157-163, 2007.
   
   
4. B.-Y. Gao, Y. Wang, Q.-Y. Yue, J.-C. Wei and Q. Li, The size and coagulation behavior of a novel composite inorganic-organic coagulant, Sep. Purif. Technol. 62, pp. 544-550, 2008.
   
   
5. K. E. Lee, T. T. Teng, N. Morad, B. T. Poh and Y. F. Hong, Flocculation of kaolin in water using novel calcium chloride-polyacrylamide (CaCl2-PAM) hybrid polymer, Sep. Purif. Technol. 75, pp. 346-351, 2010.
   
   
6. K. E. Lee, T. T. Teng, N. Morad, B. T. Poh and M. Mahalingam, Flocculation activity of novel ferric chloride-polyacrylamide (FeCl3-PAM) hybrid polymer, Desalination 266, pp. 108-113, 2011.
   
   
7. K. E. Lee, I. Khan, N. Morad, T. T. Teng and B. T. Poh, Physicochemical and rheological properties of novel magnesium salt-polyacrylamide composite polymers, J. Dispersion Sci. Technol., in press.
   
   
8. Z. L. Yang, B. Y. Gao, C. X. Li, Q. Y. Yue and B. Liu, Synthesis and characterization of hydrophobically associating cationic polyacrylamide, Chem. Eng. J. 161, pp. 27-33, 2010.
   
   

DOI:  10.1002/spepro.003873

Finally, we examined the morphological properties of the composite polymers using scanning electron microscopy (see Figure 4). The morphological features explain the microstructure of the composites in the solid phase and allow us to understand the appearance of the composites at microscopic level. For example, the dried polyacrylamide powder appears as a rigid solid with a smooth surface. In contrast, the MCPAM composite polymers appear as soft gel forms owing to their hydrophilicity. It is likely that the gel-like appearance is a result of water molecules chelated by the MgCl2 in the polymer composites. For MHPAM composite polymer, the distribution of Mg(OH)2 on the surface of polyacrylamide is not homogeneous. Instead, a hydrogen bonding network forms between the Mg(OH)2 and polyacrylamide molecules, leaving the Mg(OH)2 molecules adsorbed on the surface of the matrix. We are still investigating the how these morphological observations influence the mechanisms of wastewater treatment.

In summary, we have prepared and analyzed the thermal and morphological nature of magnesium/polyacrylamide polymer composites. MHPAM composite polymers displayed better thermal stability compared to their MCPAM counterparts. Additionally, the MCPAM composite polymers displayed a hygroscopic gel form. In future, we will test our composites in textile wastewater treatment and other industries that discharge high volumes of wastewater. Our composites should perform as flocculants, which improves upon the conventional two-stage coagulation/flocculation treatment process. With the application of our composites wastewater treatment processing time will be reduced.

Authors

References

1. Y. Wang, B. Gao, Q. Yue, J. Wei and Q. Li, The characterization and flocculation efficiency of composite flocculant iron salts-polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride, Chem. Eng. J. 142, pp. 175-181, 2008.
   
   
2. B.-Y. Gao, Y. Wang and Q.-Y. Yue, The chemical species distribution of aluminum in composite flocculants prepared from polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride (PDMDAAC), Acta Hydroch. Hydrob. 33, pp. 365-371, 2005.
   
   
3. B.-Y. Gao, Y. Wang, Q.-Y. Yue, J.-C. Wei and Q. Li, Color removal from simulated dye water and actual textile wastewater using a composite coagulant prepared by ployferric chloride and polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride, Sep. Purif. Technol. 54, pp. 157-163, 2007.
   
   
4. B.-Y. Gao, Y. Wang, Q.-Y. Yue, J.-C. Wei and Q. Li, The size and coagulation behavior of a novel composite inorganic-organic coagulant, Sep. Purif. Technol. 62, pp. 544-550, 2008.
   
   
5. K. E. Lee, T. T. Teng, N. Morad, B. T. Poh and Y. F. Hong, Flocculation of kaolin in water using novel calcium chloride-polyacrylamide (CaCl2-PAM) hybrid polymer, Sep. Purif. Technol. 75, pp. 346-351, 2010.
   
   
6. K. E. Lee, T. T. Teng, N. Morad, B. T. Poh and M. Mahalingam, Flocculation activity of novel ferric chloride-polyacrylamide (FeCl3-PAM) hybrid polymer, Desalination 266, pp. 108-113, 2011.
   
   
7. K. E. Lee, I. Khan, N. Morad, T. T. Teng and B. T. Poh, Physicochemical and rheological properties of novel magnesium salt-polyacrylamide composite polymers, J. Dispersion Sci. Technol., in press.
   
   
8. Z. L. Yang, B. Y. Gao, C. X. Li, Q. Y. Yue and B. Liu, Synthesis and characterization of hydrophobically associating cationic polyacrylamide, Chem. Eng. J. 161, pp. 27-33, 2010.
   
   

DOI:  10.1002/spepro.003873

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