Cleaning the Electroerosive Machining Wastewater with some Polyacrylamide-Based Flocculants

The granulometric composition of the metal/scale suspensions formed at electroerosive machining (EEM) of metal items made of the ST-10 steel has been determined to evaluate the need for a flocculant for the suspension particles extraction and decontamination of the machining working fluid. Even though most suspension particles are large enough and quickly self-precipitate, some particles are too small (sized 6 µm or less) and form quite stable suspensions, requiring additional flocculants to be extracted. Pure polyacrylamide with a molecular weight of 4-5*106 atomic units and an anionic polymer flocculant BESFLOC-4041 were considered as decontamination agents for the metal/scale suspensions. It was found that the latter agent is more effective, and it ensures the effective decontamination of an EEM working fluid. An admixture of 0.05 g/L of BESFLOC-4041 ensures effective clarification (with the decontamination efficiency of 90-95 %) of the metal/scale suspension with a dispersed phase concentration of up to 1.0 g/L. The flocculation efficiency of polyacrylamimde is lower (67-85 %) and its best performance is achieved at the concentration of 0.08 g/L.