Synthesis of cationic flocculants based on acrylamide and [2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride copolymers by semicontinuous inverse microemulsion polymerization. Part III: Influence of HLB and surfactant blend concentration on flocculating performance

The influence of HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) and surfactant blend concentration (SBC) on flocculating performance of latex particles of acrylamide and [2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride copolymers with a cationic charge density of 40%, obtained by inverse microemulsion copolymerization by using a surfactant blend of Arlacel 83 and Softanol 90 as emulsifier and Rolling M-245, a mixture of n-decane and n-tetradecane in about 40/60 weight ratio, as oil phase, has been studied for a total comonomer concentration of 32.5% (w/w). Comonomer inverse microemulsion copolymerizations were carried out in the semicontinuous mode by adding continuously an aqueous solution of sodium metabisulflte (SMB) as initiator into stirred inverse comonomer microemulsions. From 7.75 to 8.26, HLB has a strong influence on average molar mass (M _w) and flocculating performance (FP), the higher the HLB the higher the FP. A small decrease in SBC causes a dramatic increase in M_w, and a decrease in FP although the influence on copolymer viscosity is small. Results are explained in terms of copolymer structuring degree and collapsed state of copolymer chains inside latex particles as well as in terms of the observed composition drift with conversion.