Phase separation of salt dispersions of clay with polyacrylamide flocculants

Effect of polyacrylamide (co)polymers on the properties and structure of floccules formed in the course of phase separation of a salt dispersion of clay was studied. It was shown that, with a binary system of unlike-charged copolymers, a sediment with high density and water-yielding capacity is formed, which is necessary for the effective phase separation. The subsequent squeezing of the flocculated sediment to remove water leads to a local increase in the concentration of polymers in the solid phase, which raises the plastic strength of the sediment and improves the granulation conditions.