Investigation of the stability of an alumina suspension in the presence of ionic polyacrylamide

The influence of solution pH on the adsorption mechanism of polyacrylamide (PAM) on the alumina surface and stability of its suspension in the presence of polymer were investigated. The structure of polymer adsorption layer was determined from the spectrophotometric, viscosity, surface charge and zeta potential measurements which enable determination of adsorbed amount of polymer, thickness of the polymer adsorption layer, surface charge density and zeta potential of Al₂O₃ particles in the absence and presence of PAM. The measurements of stability of alumina suspension without and with adsorbed polyacrylamide were also carried out using two methods: spectrophotometry and turbidimetry. The obtained results indicate that solution pH influences the structure of PAM adsorption layer (decrease of adsorbed amounts of polymer and increase of its adsorption layer thickness with the increasing pH). These conformational changes of polyacrylamide molecules with the rising pH have an impact on stability of the alumina suspension. The most pronounced effect of polymer on the stabilization properties of investigated systems is observed for PAM addition at pH 6 resulting in a great destabilization of the alumina particles by bridging flocculation.