Development of graft copolymer flocculating agents based on hydroxypropyl guar gum and acrylamide

Graft copolymers of hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPG) with polyacrylamide (PAM) have been synthesized using a ceric ion‐induced solution polymerization technique at 28°C. Six graft copolymers have been synthesized with variation in the number and length of grafted PAM chains. The graft copolymers were characterized by viscometry, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and thermal analysis studies. Flocculation jar tests were carried out in 0.25 wt % kaolin, iron ore, and silica suspensions. Among the series of graft copolymers, the one with fewest but longest PAM chains shows the better performance. The flocculation characteristics of this best performing graft copolymer are compared with various commercially available flocculants in the three suspensions.