Adsorption characteristics of polyacrylamide and sulfonate-containing polyacrylamide copolymers on sodium kaolinite

Polyacrylamide and its copolymer containing 6.8 mole % 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid were prepared by an irradiation-initiated precipitation polymerization technique. The polymer was characterized by intrinsic viscosity under conditions similar to those used during adsorption measurements. Hydrolytic degradation of the polyacrylamide was found to be negligible under conditions used. The adsorption substrate, sodium kaolinite, was prepared by extensive ion exchange treatment. Equilibrium adsorption of the polymers on the sodium kaolinite was made as a function of polymer concentration, solution pH, ionic strength, and temperature