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Polyacrylamide

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Polyacrylamide
Names
IUPAC name
poly(2-prop-enamide)
Identifiers
ChemSpider
  • none
ECHA InfoCard 100.118.050 Edit this at Wikidata
UNII
Properties
(C3H5NO)n
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Polyacrylamide (IUPAC poly(2-propenamide) or poly(1-carbamoylethylene), abbreviated as PAM) is a polymer (-CH2CHCONH2-) formed from acrylamide subunits. It can be synthesized as a simple linear-chain structure or cross-linked, typically using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide. In the cross-linked form, the possibility of the monomer being present is reduced even further. It is highly water-absorbent, forming a soft gel when hydrated, used in such applications as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and can also be called ghost crystals when cross-linked, and in manufacturing soft contact lenses. In the straight-chain form, it is also used as a thickener and suspending agent. More recently, it has been used as a subdermal filler for aesthetic facial surgery (see Aquamid).

Uses of polyacrylamide

One of the largest uses for polyacrylamide is to flocculate solids in a liquid. This process applies to water treatment, and processes like paper making and screen printing. Polyacrylamide can be supplied in a powder or liquid form, with the liquid form being subcategorized as solution and emulsion polymer. Even though these products are often called 'polyacrylamide', many are actually copolymers of acrylamide and one or more other chemical species, such as an acrylic acid or a salt thereof. The main consequence of this is to give the 'modified' polymer a particular ionic character.

Another common use of polyacrylamide and its derivatives is in subsurface applications such as Enhanced Oil Recovery. High viscosity aqueous solutions can be generated with low concentrations of polyacrylamide polymers, and these can be injected to improve the economics of conventional waterflooding.

The linear soil conditioning form was developed in the 1950s by Monsanto Company and was marketed under the trade name Krilium. The soil conditioning technology was presented at a symposium on "Improvement of Soil Structure" held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 29, 1951. The technology was strongly documented and was published in the June 1952 issue of the journal Soil Science, volume 73, June 1952 that was dedicated to polymeric soil conditioners.

The original formulation of Kriliumwas difficult to use because it contained calcium which cross-linked the linear polymer under field conditions. Even with a strong marketing campaign, Krilium was abandoned by the Monsanto.

After 34 years, the journal Soil Science wanted to update the soil conditioning technology and published another dedicated issue on polymeric soil conditioner and especially linear, water-soluble, anionic polyacrylamide in the May 1986 issue, volume 141, issue number 5.

The Foreword, written by Arthur Wallace from UCLA and Sheldon D. Nelson from BYU stated in part:

The new water-soluble soil conditioners may, if used according to established procedures

  1. increase pore space in soils containing clay
  2. increase water infiltration into soils containing clay
  3. prevent soil crusting
  4. stop erosion and water runoff
  5. make friable soil that is easy to cultivate
  6. make soil dry quicker after rain or irrigation, so that the soil can be worked sooner

Consequently, these translate into

  1. stronger, larger plants with more extensive root system
  2. earlier seed emergence and crop maturity
  3. more efficient water utilization
  4. easier weed removal
  5. more response to fertilizers and to new crop varieties
  6. less plant diseases related to poor soil aeration
  7. decreased energy requirement for tillage

Today "MP" is stated to be a "unique formulation of PAM" (Water-soluble polyacrylamide was developed by Arthur Wallace). The effectiveness of PAM has been excellent. Some soil consulting companies provide services to evaluate the best application procedures to apply PAM, one of which was formed by Arthur Wallace, www.bettersoils.com. He authored most of the papers published in the May 1986 issue of Soil Science.

The cross-linked form which retains water is often used for horticultural and agricultural under trade names such as Broadleaf P4, Swell-Gel, and so on.

The anionic form of linear, water soluble polyacrylamide is frequently used as a soil conditioner on farm land and construction sites for erosion control, in order to protect the water quality of nearby rivers and streams.[1]

The polymer is also used to make Gro-Beast toys, which expand when placed in water, such as the Test Tube Aliens. Similarly, the absorbent properties of one of its copolymers can be utilized as an additive in body-powder.

The ionic form of polyacrylamide has found an important role in the potable water treatment industry. Trivalent metal salts, like ferric chloride and aluminum chloride, are bridged by the long polymer chains of polyacrylamide. This results in significant enhancement of the flocculation rate. This allows water treatment plants to greatly improve the removal of total organic content (TOC) from raw water.

Polyacrylamide is also often used in molecular biology applications as a medium for electrophoresis of proteins and nucleic acids in a technique known as PAGE.

And it was used in the synthesis of the first Boger fluid.

Soil Conditioner

The primary functions of polyacrylamide soil conditioners are to increase soil tilth, aeration, and porosity and reduce compaction, dustiness and water run-off. Secondary functions are to increase plant vigor, color, appearance, rooting depth and emergence of seeds while decreasing water requirements, diseases, erosion and maintenance expenses. FC 2712 is used for this purpose.

Stability

In dilute aqueous solution, such as is commonly used for Enhanced Oil Recovery applications, polyacrylamide polymers are susceptible to chemical, thermal, and mechanical degradation. Chemical degradation occurs when the labile amine moiety hydrolyzes at elevated temperature or pH, resulting in the evolution of ammonia and a remaining carboxyl group. Thus, the degree of anionicity of the molecule increases. Thermal degradation of the vinyl backbone can occur through several possible radical mechanisms, including the autooxidation of small amounts of iron and reactions between oxygen and residual impurities from polymerization at elevated temperature. Mechanical degradation can also be an issue at the high shear rates experienced in the near-wellbore region.

Environmental effects

Concerns have been raised that polyacrylamide used in agriculture may contaminate food with acrylamide, a known neurotoxin. While polyacrylamide itself is relatively non-toxic, it is known that commercially available polyacrylamide contains minute residual amounts of acrylamide remaining from its production, usually less than 0.05% w/w.[2]

Additionally, there are concerns that polyacrylamide may de-polymerise to form acrylamide. In a study conducted in 2003 at the Central Science Laboratory in Sand Hutton, England, polyacrylamide was treated similarly as food during cooking. It was shown that these conditions do not cause polyacrylamide to de-polymerise significantly.[3]

In a study conducted in 1997 at Kansas State University, the effect of environmental conditions on polyacrylamide were tested, and it was shown that degradation of polyacrylamide under certain conditions can cause the release of acrylamide.[4] The experimental design of this study as well as its results and their interpretation have been questioned,[5][6] and a 1999 study by the Nalco Chemical Company did not replicate the results.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Construction Contract Standards [1] "Standard Specifications State of California"
  2. ^ Woodrow JE; Seiber JN; Miller GC. (Apr 23, 2008). "Acrylamide Release Resulting from Sunlight Irradiation of Aqueous Polyacrylamide/Iron Mixtures". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 56 (8): 2773–2779. doi:10.1021/jf703677v.
  3. ^ Ahn JS; Castle L. (5 November 2003). "Tests for the Depolymerization of Polyacrylamides as a Potential Source of Acrylamide in Heated Foods". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 51 (23). doi:10.1021/jf0302308.
  4. ^ Smith EA; Prues SL; Oehme FW. (June 1997). "Environmental degradation of polyacrylamides. II. Effects of environmental (outdoor) exposure". Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 37 (1): 76–91. doi:10.1006/eesa.1997.1527.
  5. ^ Kay-Shoemake JL; Watwood ME; Lentz RD; Sojka RE. (August 1998). "Polyacrylamide as an organic nitrogen source for soil microorganisms with potential effects on inorganic soil nitrogen in agricultural soil". Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 30 (8/9): 1045–1052. doi:10.1016/S0038-0717(97)00250-2.
  6. ^ Gao JP; Lin T; Wang W; Yu JG; Yuan SJ; Wang SM. (1999). "Accelerated chemical degradation of polyacrylamide". Macromolecular Symposia. 144: 179–185. ISSN 1022-1360.
  7. ^ Ver Vers LM. (December 1999). "Determination of acrylamide monomer in polyacrylamide degradation studies by high-performance liquid chromatography". Journal of Chromatographic Science. 37 (12): 486–494.
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