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Title: Reclamation of waste polystyrene by sulfonation

Journal Article · · Langmuir
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/la981185e· OSTI ID:680098
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Sony Corp. Research Center, Yokohama (Japan). Center for Environmental Technology

Waste polystyrene containing additives was converted into a polymeric flocculant by a chemical modification. Specifically, waste polystyrene and waste high-impact polystyrene (HI-PS) containing rubber components or a coloring agent were sulfonated to produce a water-soluble polymer whose molecular weight ranged from 400,000 to 700,000. The polymer provides superior purification of the supernatant after flocculating a kaolin suspension than a conventional polymeric flocculant such as a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (hereafter abbreviate PAA). Moreover, using the polymer and a PAA together provides a higher sedimentation rate and a purer supernatant in the treatment of actual wastewater than using each one separately. A new reclamation technology to convert waste plastic into a functional polymer is reported.

OSTI ID:
680098
Journal Information:
Langmuir, Vol. 15, Issue 12; Other Information: DN: Paper presented at Polyelectrolytes `98, May 31--June 3, 1998, Inuyama (JP); PBD: 8 Jun 1999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English