Suspension stability control using light-sensitive polymers

In this paper a novel approach to the flocculation phenomenon was investigated, i.e. application of light-sensitive polymers. A hypothesis was proposed that the energy delivered by an electromagnetic wave will trigger the photo-dimerization reaction, which in turn will lead to the destabilization process via bridging phenomenon. In research two polymers differing in content of light-sensitive component, i.e. cinnamoyl groups, were synthesized by means of conventional free radical copolymerization and postreaction. In the flocculation experiments a model suspension of CaCO3 precipitate in deionized water was used. The experiments were performed using two different mixer configurations. Unfortunately, the postulated mechanism was proved to be wrong. Although both polymers acted as good destabilization agents directly after injection to suspension, the UV radiation had no impact on the process.