Plasma-initiated polymerization of chitosan-based CS-g-P(AM-DMDAAC) flocculant for the enhanced flocculation of low-algal-turbidity water

Yongjun Sun; Chengyu Zhu; Wenquan Sun; Yanhua Xu; Xuefeng Xiao; Huaili Zheng; Huifang Wu; Cuiyun Liu

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.02.010

Plasma-initiated polymerization of chitosan-based CS-g-P(AM-DMDAAC) flocculant for the enhanced flocculation of low-algal-turbidity water

Carbohydr Polym. 2017 May 15:164:222-232. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.02.010. Epub 2017 Feb 3.

Authors

Yongjun Sun¹, Chengyu Zhu², Wenquan Sun³, Yanhua Xu⁴, Xuefeng Xiao², Huaili Zheng⁵, Huifang Wu², Cuiyun Liu²

Affiliations

¹ College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211800, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Industrial Water-Conservation & Emission Reduction, College of Environment, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211800, China. Electronic address: sunyongjun008@163.com.
² College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211800, China.
³ College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211800, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Industrial Water-Conservation & Emission Reduction, College of Environment, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211800, China.
⁴ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Industrial Water-Conservation & Emission Reduction, College of Environment, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211800, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, State Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China.

PMID: 28325320
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.02.010

Abstract

In this work, a highly efficient and environmentally friendly chitosan-based graft flocculant, namely, acrylamide- and dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride-grafted chitosan [CS-g-P(AM-DMDAAC)], was prepared successfully through plasma initiation. FTIR results confirmed the successful polymerization of CS-g-P(AM-DMDAAC) and P(AM-DMDAAC). P(AM-DMDAAC) was the copolymer of acrylamide- and dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride. SEM results revealed that a densely cross-linked network structure formed on the surface. XRD results verified that the ordered crystal structure of chitosan in CS-g-P(AM-DMDAAC) was changed into an amorphous structure after plasma-induced polymerization. The flocculation results of low-algal-turbidity water further showed the optimal flocculation efficiency of turbidity removal rate, COD removal rate, and Chl-a removal rate were 99.02%, 96.11%, and 92.20%, respectively. The flocculation efficiency of CS-g-P(AM-DMDAAC) were significantly higher than those obtained by cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) and Polymeric aluminum and iron (PAFC). This work provided a valuable basis for the design of eco-friendly naturally modified polymeric flocculants to enhance the flocculation of low-algal-turbidity water.

Keywords: Algal removal; Chitosan; Coagulation–flocculation; Flocculants; Plasma initiation.