Determining the Concentration of High-Molecular, Water-Soluble Polymer Used in the Development of a New Type of Feed Additive

摘要

High-molecular , water-soluble nanoscale polymers (HWPs) have different functional purposes and different areas of application. HWP in livestock farming to feed ruminants to increase their milk and meat productivity has first been applied. An innovative feed additive based on nanoscale anionic polymers must be developed through studying their properties by determining the presence of these polymers in water solutions. At present, there are several basic methods for determining the concentration of HWP in water. However, they have significant disadvantages, including the complexity of execution, the high duration of the process, application of aggressive reagents, and the use of expensive equipment. The express method for quantifying the concentration of anionic HWP that has been developed is simple, accurate, and inexpensive. It is based on the flocculating properties of polymers. The method involves the preparation of basic and auxiliary solutions of a golden ocher pigment and a saturated solution of a mixture of sodium chloride and potassium salts, then the determination of the time of the golden ocher pigment settling in the “idle” experiment and in the analyzed solutions. The formulas for calculating the ocher sedimentation rate and polymer concentration are presented. The method can be used in the concentration range of anionic polymers of 0.0001–0.5 mg/mL. The express method is intended for specialists working at chemical laboratories of industrial and agricultural enterprises, and scientific and medical institutions.