Synthesis of grafted flocculants based on several kinds of starch and its performance in water turbidity removal

Abstract

Abstract. Taro starch, cassava starch and also their modified were prepared as a backbone of grafted flocculants. These flocculants were synthesized by combining the properties of synthetic and natural polymer via the 'grafting to' method that separated into two stages. The first stage was synthesizing of nonterminated polyacrylamide (nt-PAM) and then followed by the second stage grafting of the nt-PAM onto several kinds of starch. The intrinsic viscosity (K) and average molecular weight (Mv) of starches-g-PAM were observed and their molecular structures were analyzed by using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). Finally, the obtained flocculants were tested to evaluate their performance for the treatment of the simulated water turbidity containing 10 g of kaolin in 1000 ml of aquadest. The results showed that all the grafted flocculants can be good comparable to some commercial organic flocculants. The percentages of the water turbidity removal for each of backbones are 93.6% (taro starch), 91.2% (cassava starch), 95.3% (modified taro starch) and 94.1% (modified cassava starch). It can be highlighted that the modified taro starch exhibited the best performance in water turbidity removal up to 95%.

Performance Test of Starch-g-Polyacrylamide Synthesized through Grafting as a Flocculant in Artificial Wastewater Treatment

“…The cassava starch was modified enzimatically using -Amylase prior to use as a backbone of grafted flocculant. As described in our previous article [6], the modified starch was visually clearer in water solution and had lower viscosity compared to the neat one. However, the IR spectrum showed this modification was not changing the molecular structure taro starch (see Fig.…”

“…The acrylamide concentration was varied about 0.01 M and 0.02 M. While the polymerization time was studied at range between 60-90 minutes. The other conditions of both synthesizing and grafting of nt-PAM were accorded to our previous work [6].…”

“…In previous study, Kaavessina, et al (2017) was successfully grafting polyacrylamide to many kinds of starch (taro and cassava starch) in both neat or modified form [6]. The obtained flocculant has also tested in the flocculation of artificial wastewater.…”

Insights into the Synergistic Removal of Copper(II), Cadmium(II), and Chromium(III) Ions Using Modified Chitosan Based on Schiff Bases-g-poly(acrylonitrile)

“…Various polysaccharide compounds like chitin, starch, chitosan, and their derivatives have attracted specific interest. Those polysaccharides are renewable, biodegradable, plentiful, and inexpensive and are the perfect choice in water purification and excellent ones for saving the environment. − Also, chitosan and its derivatives are natural low-cost polymers and have shown biodegradability with amine groups on its backbone structure. Therefore, this work is expected to provide new avenues with regard to the facile synthesis of high-performance green adsorbent materials.…”