Removal of Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Using a Novel Pnipaam Polymeric Flocculant

Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) is a well-known temperature responsive polymer and has received extensive attention due to its sharp transition from hydrophilic to hydrophobic at its lower critical solution temperature (LCST). Due to its temperature responsiveness, functionalized P(NIPAAm) can be used as a flocculant to adsorb hydrophobic colloidal impurities suspended in water with great efficiency.

The overall goal of this project was to develop novel polymers with incorporation of biphenyl moiety which can be used to floc metal oxide nanoparticles (MONP) suspended in water. The monomers used were N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and the acrylated forms of 2-phenylphenol identified as 2PPMA. With these monomers, a polymeric flocculant was synthesized and was characterized to determine its LCST, Molecular weight, and zeta potential. These systems were then tested for the flocculation efficiency while varying the salt concentration, polymer dosage and MONP dosage.