Synthesis of functional polymers and their usage as flocculating agent

The flocculation process is extensively used in various industries such as mineral processing for beneficiation, paper facilities, drink-beverage, food and petrochemical processes. Suspension forms as a result of this process and colloidal particles in suspension carry certain charges. When suspension is left without agitation or stirring, colloidal particles will collapse if they are big enough or will suspended in the liquid phase if they are fine particles. Collapsed coarse particles will easily be redistributed in liquid phase by soft stirring. Firstly, colloidal particles will coagulate due the destabilization of surface charges with chemicals then, these particles will form macroflocs through chemical agent which means flocculation. Chemicals used in the precipitation of colloidal particles are called as flocculating agent (flocculant). Homopolymers, block copolymers, graft or branched polymers are generally used as a flocculating agent. These polymers are obtained from neutral, anionic and cationic monomers. For the synthesis of these polymers Free Radical Polymerization (FRP) and Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization (CRP/LRP) are used. Different from studies uptill now, the synthesis of functional polymers will be applied and its postmodification will be studied subsequently. The performance of the postmodified polymer will be tested as a flocculating agent.