GB963772A - Method for improving the flocculating properties of proteinaceous materials - Google Patents

Abstract

Clay may be caused to agglomerate from aqueous dispersions of finely divided clay by use of a flocculating agent comprising the product obtained by heating and reacting a water-dispersible proteinaceous material with an aliphatic aldehyde to a time and a temperature sufficient to cause an appreciable increase in the viscosity of the reaction mixture but insufficient to cause insolubilization of the mixture in water (see Division C3). Polymeric flocculating agents such as polyacrylamide may also be present.ALSO:The flocculating properties of proteinaceous materials are improved by heating and reacting a water dispersible proteinaceous material with an aliphatic aldehyde to a time and a temperature sufficient to cause an appreciable increase in the viscosity of the reaction mixture but insufficient to cause insolubilization of the mixture in water. The proteinaceous material may be glue, gelatin, casein, soybean protein, collagen, keratin, gluten or zein, and the aldehyde may be formaldehyde, acrolein, glyceraldehyde, hydroxy adipaldehyde, glyoxal or glutaraldehyde. The reaction is preferably effected by heating an aqueous mixture containing from 10% to 50% by weight of proteinaceous material with from 0.2% to 15% by weight of aldehyde based on the weight of the proteinaceous material at a temperature of from 80 DEG to 200 DEG F. for a time sufficient to effect a reaction but insufficient to cause gelation. After the reaction has been carried to the desired extent the product may be reacted with a peroxy compound such as hydrogen peroxide or ammonium or potassium persulphate.