Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A more eco-friendly synthesis of flocculants to treat wastewaters using health-friendly solvents

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
Colloid and Polymer Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The main objective of this work was to investigate the possibility of producing new polyelectrolytes (flocculants) synthesized using health-friendly ingredients. A well-known copolymer used in water treatment, poly(acrylamide-co-2-(acryloyloxy)ethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride), was prepared by inverse-emulsion polymerization using new alternative organic phases. Specifically, three different purified oils of liquid saturated hydrocarbons with high boiling point and high purity were tested as synthesis media in the development of copolymers with different charge densities. In all of these oils, the toxic polycyclic aromatics and the heavy metals were not present. The polyelectrolytes were characterized in terms of shear viscosity, hydrodynamic diameter, molecular weight, zeta potential, intrinsic viscosity, and chemical composition (13C NMR and FTIR). Final results revealed the success of the application of the new health-friendly formulation in the polymerization to produce polyelectrolytes and, additionally, the polymers produced had good flocculation efficiency in two different real industrial effluents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alrawi RA, Ab Rahman NNN, Ahmad A et al (2013) Characterization of oily and non-oily natural sediments in palm oil mill effluent. J Chem 2013:1-11.https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/298958

  2. Imran H (2005) Wastewater monitoring of pharmaceutical industry: treatment and reuse options. Electron J Environ Agric Food Chem 4:994–1004

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gomec CY, Erdim E, Turan I et al (2007) Advanced oxidation treatment of physico-chemically pre-treated olive mill industry effluent. J Environ Sci Health B 42:741-747. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601230701466021

  4. Zhong J, Sun X, Wang C (2003) Treatment of oily wastewater produced from refinery processes using flocculation and ceramic membrane filtration. Sep Purif Technol 32:93–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1383-5866(03)00067-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Raghunath B V, Punnagaiarasi A, Rajarajan G et al (2016) Impact of dairy effluent on environment—a review. In: Integrated Waste Management in India. Springer, Berlin, pp 239-249. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27228-3_22

  6. Jamaly S, Giwa A, Hasan SW (2015) Recent improvements in oily wastewater treatment: progress, challenges, and future opportunities. J Environ Sci 37:15–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2015.04.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Mater L, Sperb RM, Madureira LAS, et al. (2006) Proposal of a sequential treatment methodology for the safe reuse of oil sludge-contaminated soil. J Hazard Mater 136:967–971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.01.041

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bolto B, Gregory J (2007) Organic polyelectrolytes in water treatment. Water Res 41:2301–2324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2007.03.012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Renault F, Sancey B, Badot P-M, Crini G (2009) Chitosan for coagulation/flocculation processes—an eco-friendly approach. Eur Polym J 45:1337–1348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2008.12.027

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Radoiu M (2004) Preparation of polyelectrolytes for wastewater treatment. J Hazard Mater 106:27–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2003.08.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hernandez-Barajas J, Wandrey C, Hunkeler D (2003) Polymer flocculants with improved dewatering characteristics, U.S. Patent No. 6,617,402

  12. Rasteiro MG, Garcia FAP, Ferreira PJ, et al. (2010) Flocculation by cationic polyelectrolytes: relating efficiency with polyelectrolyte characteristics. J Appl Polym Sci 116:3603–3612. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.31903

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Hernandez-Barajas J, Wandrey C, Hunkeler D (2003) Polymer flocculants with improved dewatering characteristics. U.S. Patent No. 6,294,622

  14. Crespy D, Landfester K (2009) Synthesis of polyvinylpyrrolidone/silver nanoparticles hybrid latex in non-aqueous miniemulsion at high temperature. Polymer 50:1616-1620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2009.02.003

  15. Chen S-C, Liao C-M (2006) Health risk assessment on human exposed to environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pollution sources. Sci Total Environ 366:112–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.08.047

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lu Y, Larock RC (2007) New hybrid latexes from a soybean oil-based waterborne polyurethane and acrylics via emulsion polymerization. Biomacromolecules 8:3108–3114. https://doi.org/10.1021/bm700522z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Xia Y, Larock RC (2010) Vegetable oil-based polymeric materials: synthesis, properties, and applications. Green Chem 12:1893–1909. https://doi.org/10.1039/c0gc00264j

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Rawlings AV, Lombard KJ (2012) A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oil. Int J Cosmet Sci 34:511–518. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2494.2012.00752.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kim E, Nam GW, Kim S, et al. (2007) Influence of polyol and oil concentration in cosmetic products on skin moisturization and skin surface roughness. Skin Res Technol 13:417–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0846.2007.00246.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Nash JF, Gettings SD, Diembeck W, et al. (1996) A toxicological review of topical exposure to white mineral oils. Food Chem Toxicol 34:213–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-6915(95)00106-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Lafuma F, Durand G (1989) 13C NMR spectroscopy of cationic copolymers of acrylamide. Polym Bull 21:315–318. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00955924

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Bourdillon L, Hunkeler D, Wandrey C (2006) The analytical ultracentrifuge for the characterization of polydisperse polyelectrolytes. Anal Ultracentrifugation VIII 131:141-149. https://doi.org/10.1007/2882_018

  23. Murugan R, Mohan S, Bigotto A (1998) FTIR and polarised Raman spectra of acrylamide and polyacrylamide. J Korean Phys Soc 32:505–512

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Larkin P (2011) Infrared and Raman spectroscopy; principles and spectral interpretation. Elsevier, USA

  25. Palomino D, Hunkeler D, Stoll S (2011) Comparison of two cationic polymeric flocculant architectures on the destabilization of negatively charged latex suspensions. Polymer 52:1019-1026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2010.12.033

  26. Armanet L, Hunkeler D (2007) Phase inversion of polyacrylamide based inverse-emulsions: effect of the surfactant and monomer on postinversion equilibrium properties. J Appl Polym Sci 106:2328–2341. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.25309

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the financial support from the Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITN)—European Industrial Doctorate (EID), through Grant agreement FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN- 604825 and Pest/C/EQB/UI0102/2013, financed by FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the program COMPETE (POFC).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, CIEPQPF, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal

    Anita Lourenço, José A. F. Gamelas & Maria G. Rasteiro

  2. Aqua+Tech Specialities SA, Chemin du Chalet-du-Bac 4, Geneva, 1237 Avully, Switzerland

    Anita Lourenço & Julien Arnold

Authors
  1. Anita Lourenço
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julien Arnold
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. José A. F. Gamelas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Maria G. Rasteiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria G. Rasteiro.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lourenço, A., Arnold, J., Gamelas, J.A.F. et al. A more eco-friendly synthesis of flocculants to treat wastewaters using health-friendly solvents. Colloid Polym Sci 295, 2123–2131 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-017-4184-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-017-4184-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation