Wilhelm E. Walles

Role of flocculant molecular weight in the coagulation of suspensions

Abstract The very remarkable influence of the polymer molecular weight of linear long-chain water-soluble polymers on the flocculation rate of certain suspensions has been reported repeatedly. It is shown that this behavior can be understood theoretically by analyzing a new flocculation rate equation. The latter is derived in close analogy to Von Smoluchowskis equations for the kinetics of rapid coagulation, based on Brownian motion. A comparison is made between predictions based on the new equation and experimental data.