Assessing Polyelectrolyte Behavior by Size‐Exclusion Chromatography
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 116, Issue 2
Abstract
Size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC) is used to investigate the behavior of polyelectrolytes during sewage and water‐treatment processes. Sewage treatment is modeled by jar tests on raw sewage. Beyond the optimum polyelectrolyte dose for turbidity removal of 2 mg/L, SEC is able to detect residual polyelectrolytes in the supernatant. It is also possible to show by SEC measurements that higher molecular weight (MW) fractions of cationic polyelectrolytes are adsorbed to the solids proportionally more than the lower MW fractions; however, with anionic polyelectrolytes there is no similar selection. In the case of water treatment, SEC is used to investigate the interaction of polyelectrolytes with chlorine and ozone. In both cases, there is a shift to lower MW products, and this could be related to a reduction in flocculation efficiency of the polyelectrolyte. The production of acrylamide and chloroform during chlorine and ozone interaction with the polyelectrolyte is also monitored. Acrylamide monomer concentration is reduced by both chlorine and ozone. Chloroform is produced in significant concentrations during chlorination (yield of 0.019 mg/mg at pH 9 after three days). SEC can thus be used for detection, monitoring, and control; to study the behavior of polyelectrolytes during treatment processes and hence design more effective polyelectrolytes; and finally, to predict the flocculation efficiency of existing polyelectrolytes.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Amy, G. L., and Chadik, P. A. (1983). “Cationic polyelectrolytes as primary coagulants for removing trihalomethane precursors.” J. Am. Water Works Assoc., 75(10), 527–531.
2.
Anthony, A. J., King, P. H., and Randall, C. W. (1975). “The effects of branching and other physical properties of anionic polyacrylamides on the flocculation of domestic sewage.” J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 19(1), 37–48.
3.
Beazley, P. M. (1985). “Quantitative determination of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide polymers in oil field production water.” Anal. Chem., 57(11), 2098–2101.
4.
Biesinger, K. E., and Stokes, G. N. (1986). “Effects of synthetic polyelectrolytes on selected aquatic organisms.” J. Water Pollut. Control Fed., 58(3), 207–213.
5.
Brown, L., Rhead, M. M., and Bancroft, K. C. C. (1982). “Rapid screening technique utilising high‐performance liquid chromatography for assessing acrylamide contamination in effluents.” Analyst, 107(1276), 749–754.
6.
Feige, M. A., et al. (1980). “Potential contaminants introduced into water supplies by the use of coagulant aids.” Water chlorination: Environmental impact and health effects, Vol. 3, R. L. Jolley et al., eds., Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, Mich.
7.
Gehr, R., and Henry, J. G. (1983). “Polymer dosage control in dissolved air flotation.” J. Envir. Engrg., ASCE, 109(2), 448–465.
8.
Gehr, R., and Kalluri, R. (1983). “The effects of short‐term storage and elevated temperatures on the flocculation activity of aqueous polymer solutions.” Water Pollut. Res. J. Canada, 18, 23–44.
9.
Gehr, R. (1985). Settling column tests on sewage from the Montreal urban community. Prepared for Montreal Urban Community, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
10.
Ghosh, M. M., Cox, C. D., and Prakash, T. M. (1985). “Polyelectrolyte selection for water treatment.” J. Am. Water Works Assoc., 77(3), 67–73.
11.
Gooding, D. L., Schmuck, M. N., and Gooding, K. M. (1982). “HPSEC of cationic polymers on a polyamine support.” J. Liquid Chromatography, 5(12), 2259–2270.
12.
Gregory, J. (1969). “Flocculation of polystyrene particles with cationic polyelectrolytes.” Trans., Faraday Society, 65, 2260–2268.
13.
Helz, G. R., Dotson, D. A., and Sigleo, A. C. (1983). “Chlorine demand: Studies concerning its chemical basis.” Water chlorination: Environmental impact and health effects, R. L. Jolley, W. A. Brungs, J. A. Cotruvo, R. B. Cumming, J. S. Mattice, and V. A. Jacobs, eds. Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, Mich., 181–190.
14.
Ho, C. H., and Howard, G. J. (1982). “The destabilisation of anionic polystyrene latices by vinyl pyridine/acrylamide copolymers and homopolymers.” The effect of polymers on dispersion properties, Th. F. Tadros, ed. Academic Press, London, U.K., 343–360.
15.
Hudson, Jr., H. E., and Wagner, E. G. (1981). “Conduct and uses of jar tests.” J. Am. Water Works Assoc., 73(4), 218–223.
16.
Jolley, R. L., and Carpenter, J. H. (1983). “A review of the chemistry and environmental fate of reactive oxidant species in chlorinated water.” Water chlorination: Environmental impact and health effects, R. L. Jolley, W. A. Brungs, J. A. Cotruvo, R. B. Cumming, J. S. Mattice, and V. A. Jacobs, eds., Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, Mich., 3–48.
17.
Kavanaugh, M. C. (1983). “Introduction.” Proc., AWWA Seminar: Use of Organic Polyelectrolytes in Water Treatment, American Water Works Association, VII‐VIII.
18.
Keiser, K. L. E., and Lawrence, J. (1977). “Polyelectrolytes: Potential chloroform precursors.” Sci., 196(4295), 1205–1206.
19.
LeCloirec, C., and Martin, G. (1986). “Evolution of amino acids in water treatment plants and the effect of chlorination on amino acids.” Water chlorination: Chemistry, environmental impact and health effects, vol. 5, R. L. Jolley, et al., eds., Lewis, Mich., 821–834.
20.
Leung, R. W. M., Pandey, R. N., and Das, B. S. (1987). “Determination of polyacrylamides in coal washery effluents by ultrafiltration/Size‐exclusion chromatography‐ultraviolet detection techniques.” Envir. Sci. Tech., 21(5), 476–481.
21.
Levine, A. D., Tchobanoglous, G., and Asano, T. (1985). “Characterization of the size distribution of contaminants in wastewater: Treatment and reuse implications.” J. Water Pollut. Control Fed., 57(7), 805–816.
22.
Linden, C. V., and Leemput, R. V. (1978). “Adsorption studies of polystyrene on silica. II. Polydisperse adsorbate.” J. Colloid Interface Sci., 67(1), 63–69.
23.
Luttinger, L. B. (1981). “The use of polyelectrolytes in filtration processes.” Polyelectrolytes for water and wastewater treatment, W. L. K. Schwoyer, ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., 211–242.
24.
Mallevialle, J., Bruchet, A., and Fiessinger, F. (1984). “How safe are organic polymers in water treatment?.” J. Am. Water Works Assoc., 76(6), 87–93.
25.
Mangravite, F. J. (1983). “Synthesis and properties of polymers used in water treatment.” Proc., AWWA Seminar: Use of organic polyelectrolytes in water treatment, American Water Works Association, 1–15.
26.
McCollister, D. D., Oyen, F., and Rowe, V. K. (1964). “Toxicity of acrylamide.” Toxicology Appl. Pharmacology, 6(2), 172–181.
27.
Miller, M. L., O'Donnell, K., and Skogman, J. (1962). “Crystalline polyacrylic acid.” J. Colloid Sci., 17(7), 649–659.
28.
Morris, J. C. (1976). “The chemistry of aqueous chlorine in relation to water chlorination.” The environmental impact of water chlorination, R. L. Jolley, ed., Oak Ridge Nat. Lab., Energy Res. Dev. Admin., U.S. Envir. Protection Agency, Springfield, Va., 27–42.
29.
Schnoor, J. L., et al. (1979). “Trihalomethane yields as a function of precursor molecular weight.” Envir. Sci. Tech., 13(9), 1134–1138.
30.
Soponkanaporn, T., and Gehr, R. (1987). “Quantitative determination and peak molecular weight analysis of acrylamide‐based polyelectrolytes by size exclusion chromatography.” Int. J. Envir. Anal. Chem. 29(1), 1–14.
31.
Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. (1980). 15th Ed., Am. Public Health Assoc., Washington, D.C.
32.
“Survey of polyelectrolyte coagulant use in the United States.” (1982). Committee Report. J. Am. Water Works Assoc., 74(11), 600–608.
33.
Suzuki, J., Iizuka, S., and Suzuki, S. (1978). “Ozone treatment of water‐soluble polymers. III. Ozone degradation of polyacrylamide in water.” J. Appl. Polymer Sci., 22(8), 2109–2117.
34.
Suzuki, J., Taumi, N., and Suzuki, S. (1979a). “Ozone treatment of water‐soluble polymers. IV. Ozone degradability of water‐soluble polymers.” J. Appl. Polymer Sci., 23(11), 3281–3288.
35.
Suzuki, J., Harada, H., and Suzuki, S. (1979b). “Ozone treatment of water‐soluble polymers. V. Ultraviolet irradiation effects on the ozonization of polyacrylamide.” J. Appl. Polymer Sci., 24(4), 999–1006.
36.
Thies, C. (1966). “The adsorption of polystyrene‐poly(methyl methacrylate) mixtures at a solid‐liquid interface.” J. Phys. Chem., 70(12), 3783–3790.
37.
Trussell, R. R., and Umphres, M. D. (1978). “The formation of trihalomethane.” J. Am. Water Works Assoc., 60(11), 604–612.
38.
Wang, L. K., Wang, M. H., and Kao, J. F. (1978). “Application and determination of organic polymers.” Water, Air, Soil Pollut., 9, 337–348.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 116 • Issue 2 • March 1990
Pages: 343 - 360
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 ASCE.
History
Published online: Mar 1, 1990
Published in print: Mar 1990
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.