(305f) Study of Functional Polymeric Materials for Water Remediation

Protection of the environment from pollution is a challenging task of this century. Thereby treatment of industrial wastewater is the actual problem, since it is directly linked to the protection of water resources. In recent decades, flocculants are used as reagents for the purification of wastewater from the various contaminants. Their usage can improve the quality of the treated water and increase the productivity of treatment facilities. Despite the large amount of research in this area, the problem of natural and wastewater treatment cannot be considered to be solved.

This causes development of new and more effective as well as easily available flocculants and also modernization of existing water treatment technology.

Our research is to develop and study novel ampholytic functional polymers using 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (H-AMPS), N,N-dimethyl-N,N-diallylammonium chloride (DMDAAC), N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA), vinyl butyl ether (VBE) and vinyl ether of monoethanolamine (VEMEA) for water remediation. Synthesis of flocculants was performed by free radical copolymerization using initiators (AIBN, ammonium and potassium persulfates) in aqueous, organic solutions and in an inert gas (argon) atmosphere. Molar compositions of the synthesized copolymers were determined by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy and potentiometric titration.

The kinetics of the reaction of copolymerization have been studied by dilatometry method. The synthesized copolymers were tested in the laboratory as flocculants for the treatment of wastewater of drilling fluids, suspensions of bentonite clay, hydrosol of iron hydroxide (III), solution of manure of animals and birds and etc. Experimental data showed that the synthesized copolymers exhibits excellent flocculating properties and could be used for purification of industrial wastewater from various highly impurities.