Effect of cationic polyacrylamide on precipitated calcium carbonate flocculation: Kinetics, charge density and ionic strength

► Ionic strength and polymer charge% affect CPAM adsorption kinetics and PCC flocculation. ► CPAM adsorption kinetics is more important than adsorbed amount for PCC flocculation. ► Maximum rate in PCC flocculation is not at half monolayer surface coverage by CPAM. ► CPAM adsorbed on PCC increase with CPAM charge%; trend reversed at high ionic strength. ► CPAM adsorbs on PCC by electrostatic, van der Waals, H bond with steric hinderence.