1. Flocculation of diatomite by methylated milk casein in seawater
- Author
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Seki, Hideshi, Suzuki, Akira, Shinguh, Masahiro, and Maruyama, Hideo
- Subjects
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FLOCCULANTS , *DIATOMACEOUS earth , *CASEINS , *METHANOL - Abstract
A new biodegradable flocculant was prepared from a common and inexpensive protein. Milk casein was methylated in a 0.05 M HCl methyl alcohol solution at room temperature. The methylated milk casein (MeCS), having a methylation degree of 81%, was applied to the separation or flocculation of diatomite in seawater (pH
8.1±0.1 ) at room temperature (18–23 °C). The flocculating ability of MeCS was evaluated by a sedimentation balance method (cumulative measurement method). The diatomite suspension was effectively flocculated by the addition of a small amount of MeCS (0.25 wt% of the diatomite weight). The results of sedimentation analysis showed that the size–frequency curve had a very sharp and high peak; thus the diatomite floc formed by MeCS had a rather uniform size. The settling velocity of diatomite floc at the appropriate MeCS dosages (0.25–2 wt% of diatomite) was about3×10−3 m s−1 . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]- Published
- 2004
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