Abstract
Acrylamide-based polymers are used widely in water and wastewater treatment to enhance flocculation processes. It is often assumed that a polymer’s molecular weight and its type and amount of electrical charge are the crucial parameters governing its performance. Yet it is clear that the actual chemical structure of a polymer plays a key role in both process performance and in the subsequent fate of the substance. This paper relates specific aspects of polymer chemistry, such as ionizable sites, degree of cross-linkage, and hydrolyzable pendant groups, to effectiveness in flocculation. The degree of biodegradability of cationic polyacrylamides - and their ultimate environmental fate - are also related to chemical structure, and this should be taken into account in order to minimize undesirable performance and effects when using these polymers.
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Dentel, S.K., Gucciardi, B.M., Griskowitz, N.J., Chang, L.L., Raudenbush, D.L., Arican, B. (2000). Chemistry, Function, and Fate of Acrylamide-Based Polymers. In: Hahn, H.H., Hoffmann, E., Ødegaard, H. (eds) Chemical Water and Wastewater Treatment VI. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59791-6_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59791-6_4
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