Issue 67, 2020, Issue in Progress

Self-assembly of amphiphilic poly(styrene-b-acrylic acid) on magnetic latex particles and their application as a reusable scale inhibitor

Abstract

The deposition of scale on membranes or container and pipe surfaces (clogging the system) is a costly issue in water treatment processes or water-cooling systems. To effectively cope with this issue, magnetic polymeric nanoparticles (MPNPs) have been developed and applied as promising scale inhibitors, due to their high surface-area-to-volume ratio, surface modifiability, and magnetic separation ability. Carboxylated MPNPs, having a monodisperse size distribution (236 ± 26 nm) with a high magnetic content of 70 wt% and superparamagnetic properties, were fabricated by using a 2-step process: (i) formation of clusters of hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles stabilized by oleic acid (OA-MNPs), and (ii) self-assembly of the amphiphilic block copolymer of poly(styrene27-b-acrylic acid120) (PS27-b-PAA120) onto the cluster surfaces. With application of ultrasonication to 12.0 wt% OA-MNPs, a three-dimensional network was formed by particle–particle interactions, suppressing coalescence, and then creating stable magnetic clusters. The cluster surfaces were then adsorbed by amphiphilic PS27-b-PAA120 via the attractive force between hydrophobic PS blocks. This moves longer hydrophilic PAA blocks containing carboxylic acid groups into the water phase. The formulated MPNPs acted as a nanosorbent for calcium ion (Ca2+) removal with a removal efficiency of 92%. The MPNPs can be effectively reused for up to 4 cycles. Based on the electrostatic interactions between the negatively-charged polymer and the hydrated Ca2+, the resulting precipitation leads to the prevention of calcium carbonate scale formation. Insights into this mechanism open up a new perspective for magnetic-material applications as effective antiscalants.

Graphical abstract: Self-assembly of amphiphilic poly(styrene-b-acrylic acid) on magnetic latex particles and their application as a reusable scale inhibitor

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
21 Jul 2020
Accepted
05 Nov 2020
First published
11 Nov 2020
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2020,10, 41187-41196

Self-assembly of amphiphilic poly(styrene-b-acrylic acid) on magnetic latex particles and their application as a reusable scale inhibitor

C. Kaewsaneha, A. Elaissari, P. Tangboriboonrat and P. Opaprakasit, RSC Adv., 2020, 10, 41187 DOI: 10.1039/D0RA06334G

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