A Comparison of the Sedimentation Dynamics of Statistical and Diblock Copolymer Flocculation Aids in Radwaste Dewatering

A comparison of polymeric flocculation aids for the dewatering of metal hydroxide based legacy waste suspensions was carried out. Traditional vendor bought; long chain polymer flocculants utilising "bridging" flocculation mechanisms were compared to a lab synthesised amphiphilic diblock copolymer, which utilised a "charge patch" flocculation mechanism. Whilst the smaller, denser flocs are usually inferior sedimentation enhancers, the corona of segregated highly hydrophobic tails may provide entropic driving forces to further dewater settled floc beds, producing more compact final waste forms.