Synthesis and flocculation characteristics of cationic modified corncob: A novel polymeric flocculant

Abstract

A novel organic polymeric flocculant was synthesized by grafting cationic etherifying monomer (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (CHPTAC) onto the backbone of corncob powder (CP, F ≤ 30 mm). The synthetic reaction between CP and CHPTAC was initiated by hydroxyl radical made from Fenton reagent (H2O2-FeSO4). The alkalization process and synthetic reaction conditions were optimized by varying several parameters affecting grafting efficiency, such as NaOH dose, monomer concentration, reaction temperature and time and distilled water dose. The synthesized cationic flocculant was characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer and scanning electron microscope techniques. It was concluded that the backbone of CP have been grafted cationic etherifying monomer.