Chitosan and mixtures with aqueous biocompatible temperature sensitive polymer as flocculants

► We investigate the flocculation efficiency of chitosan and mixtures of chitosan and poly(N-vinyl-caprolactam), a thermosensitive polymer. ► We had studied this combination as flocculants for clay dispersions, as a function of concentration of the polymers and temperature at different pH values. ► The chitosan in combination with the temperature sensitive poly(N-vinyl-caprolactam) gave a compact sediment at temperatures higher than the lower critical solution temperature. ► The density of the sediment of the mixture is up to 15% higher than the use of chitosan alone.