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A polymer can be adsorbed on foulant surfaces - imparting a like charge to them and thereby causing the particles to remain in suspension because of charge repulsion. The molecular weight of the polymer must be kept low to prevent particle bridging and a resultant increase in particle size. Because most of the fouling material in cooling waters already has a slightly negative surface charge, it is economically sound to add anionic polymers to water. These increase the negative surface charge and keep particles separate. Addition of a cationic polymer is feasible but might involve considerably greater expense. The charge on the suspended particles would neutralize before sufficient positive charge was built up to keep them separated. |
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