Evaluation of some starch derivatives containing amide groups as flocculants

Three types of starch derivatives namely poly(acrylamide)-starch graft copolymer, carbamoylethylated starch, and starch carbamate were prepared and evaluated as flocculants. Native and hydrolyzed maize starches were used as parent materials for these derivatives. The flocculation was followed by monitoring transmission % and weight removal %. The different factors affecting flocculation were studied. These factors include: (a) flocculant dose, (b) pH of the flocculation medium and (c) starch derivatives type, molar mass and nitrogen content. The flocculation efficiency of the three starch derivatives follows the order: poly(acrylamide)-starch graft copolymer > carbamoylethylated starch > starch carbamate. The flocculation efficiency increases on increasing the nitrogen content and/or decreasing the molar mass of the flocculant. The flocculation efficiency of various flocculants at pH 6 is higher than at pH 8. The poly(acrylamide)-starch graft copolymer based on H-3-starch has a higher flocculation efficiency than polyacrylamide.