THE ADSORPTION OF WATER-SOLUBLE POLYMERS ON MICA, TALC LIMESTONE, AND VARIOUS CLAY-MINERALS

A systematic investigation of the equilibrium adsorption and rate of adsorption of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) was undertaken with clay, mica, talc, and limestone. For all four solids, the amount of polymer adsorbed was greatest for PVOH and least for HEC. For each polymeric species, the amount of polymer adsorbed at equilibrium decreased in the order clay, talc, mica, limestone. With the exception of mica-HEC and mica-HPMC, all of the adsorption kinetics data could be well correlated by means of a Langmuir adsorption isotherm expression. The adsorption kinetics associated with the systems involving mica and a cellulosic polymer were found to be well correlated using a Freundlich adsorption isotherm expression.