Nanocomposite starch graft copolymers with carbon nanotubes - synthesis and flocculation efficiency

Nanocomposite flocculants based on polyacrylamide-grafted starch copolymers with carbon nanotubes (PAM-St-CNT) were prepared using natural polymer – potato starch (St), acrylamide (AM) as monomer and CNTs by in situ polymerization process. The effect of monomer to starch molar ratio, dose of flocculants and content of CNTs in composition on flocculation efficiency were investigated. All materials were characterized by FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) methods. An aqueous suspension of kaolin was used for the flocculation studies. The flocculation effectiveness was evaluated on the basis of reduction of suspension absorption and the sludge volume. It was found that synthesized nanocomposites PAM-St-CNT exhibit satisfactory flocculating properties.