Influence of Zwitterionic CAPB on Flocculation of the Aqueous Cationic Guar Gum/Glauconite Suspensions at Various pH

The influence of the pseudoamphoteric zwitterionic surfactant cocamidopropylbetaine (CAPB) on the stabilizing flocculating properties of the aqueous suspensions of glauconite (GT) with cationic guar gum (CGG) at various pH values was investigated. The following techniques were used: turbidimetry, UV-VIS spectrophotometry, tensiometry, electrophoretic mobility measurements, SEM, CHN, XRD, and FT-IR. It was established that CGG is an effective glauconite flocculant. Moreover, the most probable mechanism that is responsible for flocculation is bridge flocculation resulting from polymer adsorption on the glauconite surface. The adsorption process is caused by electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged glauconite surface and the positively charged polymer. The amount of CGG adsorption increases with the increase of the pH, which was confirmed by the adsorption and zeta potential measurements. The addition of CAPB increases the amount of the polymer adsorption due to the formation of intermolecular polymer–surfactant complexes; however, it reduces flocculation effectiveness

Mining in the Arctic, environmental and ecological problems N Scandinavia as an example (Kvalsund, Norway, Monchegorsk, Russia)

The Arctic region is aprospective areafor ore mining and urbanization progress. The areas of Europe located beyond the Arctic Circle have unique features of the natural environment. Conducting mining works in this place is associated with certain difficulties resulting from weather conditions (numerousrains, long winters, polar night) anddue to the high riskof permanent environmental pollution. An example of the specificity of arctic mining is Kvalsund in northern Norway, where there is a copper mine that is currently under development. Another example is the Monchegorsk region in Russia, which is currently no longer mining. Both of these places are associated with sulphide deposits of non-ferrous metals and the resulting consequences. The purpose of this text was to show the differences and similarities of these mining plants, andon this basis to demonstrate the complexity of the issues of exploitation and reclamation of mining areas in the Arctic

Interactions between Nanoclay, CTAB and Linear/Star Shaped Polymers

The influence of star-shaped (PAA-SS) and linear polyacrylic acid (PAA) with different molecular weights (high—PAA-HMW and low—PAA-LMW) on the structure of the adsorption layer, adsorption amount, electrokinetic and stabilizing properties of the PAA/CTAB/nanoclay suspensions was studied. The properties of the systems containing one of these polymers, the cationic surfactant—hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the surface-modified nanoclay (N-SM) were analyzed using the following techniques: BET, CHN, FT-IR, ED-XRF, XRD, HRTEM, UV-Vis, tensiometry and zeta potential measurements. It was proved that PAA could be used as an effective stabilizer of N-SM. Moreover, the addition of CTAB caused a significant increase in the stability of the systems but decreased the adsorption of PAA on the N-SM surface and changed the structure of the adsorption layers. The largest stability was observed in the PAA-HMW/CTAB system. The PAA polymers and PAA/CTAB complexes adsorbed, especially on the clay surface, influenced the primary distribution of the layered sheets but kept the same basal d-spacing. The adsorption of PAA and the PAA/CTAB complexes took place mainly at the plate edges and on the contact space between the sheets. The obtained results will be used for the preparation of the PAA/CTAB/nanoclay composite for water purification

Textural and Thermal Properties of the Novel Fucoidan/Nano-Oxides Hybrid Materials with Cosmetic, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Potential

The main purpose of the research was to obtain and study hybrid materials based on three different nano-oxides commonly used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries: Al2O3, TiO2, and ZnO, with the natural bioactive polysaccharide fucoidan. Since the mentioned oxides are largely utilized by industry, there is no doubt that the presented studies are important from an environmental point of view. On the basis of the textural studies (dynamic light scattering DLS, low temperature nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction analysis XRD, scanning electron microscopy SEM) it was proved that the properties of the hybrid materials differ from the pure components of the system. Moreover, the advanced thermal analysis (TG-DTG-DSC) combined with the evolved gas analysis using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mass spectrometry were applied to describe the thermal decomposition of fucoidan, oxides and hybrid materials. It was found that the interactions between the polymer and the oxides results in the formation of the hybrid materials due to the functionalization of the nanoparticles surface, and that their thermal stability increased when compared to the pure substrates. Such findings definitely fill the literature void regarding the fucoidan based hybrid materials and help the industrial formulators in the preparation of new products