COPOLYMER BASED ON [(3-METHACRYLOYLAMINO)PROPYL] TRIMETHYLAMMONIUM CHLORIDE AS A FLOCCULANT FOR INDUSTRIAL WATER TREATMENT

Abstract

The using of polymeric flocculants in the development of the oil industry in Kazakhstan is one of the innovative tasks. Therefore, the creation of new effective flocculants based on available industrial monomers with structure-forming is an urgent task. The mechanism of action of flocculants is based on the phenomenon of adsorption of flocculant molecules on the surface of colloidal particles, the formation of a network structure of flocculant molecules, and the adhesion of colloidal particles due to van der Waals and other forces. New polymeric flocculant with different molar composition was synthesized by radical copolymerization [(3-methacryloylamino)propyl]trimethylammonium chloride (TMAPMACh) with N,N-dimethyl-acrylamide (DMAA) at 333 K in the presence of ammonium persulfate, (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ as an initiator. The molar composition of the synthesized TMAPMACh-DMAA copolymer was determined by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy and conductometric titration with AgNO₃ solution. The flocculation properties of the copolymers were studied by measuring the sedimentation of dispersed particles of bentonite suspension in the presence of the flocculant. Sedimentation degree was determined by measuring the optical density of the suspension. It was found that TMAPMACh-DMAA copolymers had a flocculating effect and could be used for industrial wastewater treatment. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that this copolymer was thermally stable up to 270°C. Therefore, it can be used in deep well drilling to regulate the properties of drilling fluids.