Experimental study on the sedimentation of silicon particles under the interference of flocculants

Experimental study on the sedimentation of silicon particles under the interference of flocculants | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Experimental study on the sedimentation of silicon particles under the interference of flocculants Yang Yang, Shicong Yang, Keqiang Xie, Kuixian Wei, Wenhui Ma This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6216803/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 15 Jul, 2025 Read the published version in Silicon → Version 1 posted 14 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Silicon separation represents the initial step in the recovery of silicon from diamond wire saw silicon waste slurry. In the current recovery process, the relatively low recovery rate indicates an inadequacy in silicon separation. This article primarily focuses on the sedimentation of particle groups and delves into the interference sedimentation mechanism of particle swarms. The experimental results reveal that the optimal flocculant for promoting interference sedimentation is CPAM (Cationic Polyacrylamide). For 3.72 µm silicon particles, the effect is optimal when the CPAM concentration is set at 0.2% and the addition rate is 17%. And 0.59 µm silicon particles require a higher concentration of 0.4% concentration and 17% addition rate for CPAM, to make the particles settle. And by comparing the particle size results, it can be seen that the 0.59 µm silicon particles have more surface voids and tiny particles on the flocs, and a larger total contact area, requiring more flocculant addition. Therefore, the contact performance between particles and flocculants determines the effective level of flocculants. To enhance the contact performance between flocculants and particles, a certain proportion of PDDA was added while adding the optimal proportion of CPAM. The experimental results showed that the addition of PDDA could reduce the contact angle between particles and CPAM, improve the overall hydrophilicity of the suspension, and make it easier for CPAM to contact with silicon particles. Moreover, 0.5% PDDA was required for 3.72 µm silicon particles, and 1.5% PDDA was required for 0.59 µm silicon particles. Under these conditions, the flocculation speed and sedimentation efficiency of particles were improved. Diamond wire saw silicon waste slurry High purity silicon separation Interference sedimentation Flocculant synergy Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 15 Jul, 2025 Read the published version in Silicon → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 29 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 27 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 26 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 20 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 18 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 15 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 15 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 May, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 14 May, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 03 Apr, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 03 Apr, 2025 First submitted to journal 13 Mar, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6216803","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":456939144,"identity":"88c0a79b-e720-4c8e-a7ac-cb0696963c25","order_by":0,"name":"Yang Yang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kunming University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yang","middleName":"","lastName":"Yang","suffix":""},{"id":456939145,"identity":"6db0a511-8537-445d-8296-7b3f6abd886c","order_by":1,"name":"Shicong Yang","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA/klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBAC+RmMDSA6EUgyPmyACBrg1WJwA6GF2RBISBDWIgGhjYGYTZI4LdLNjR8+7qiV45/dfq1yZltdHQN78zYJhpo7uP0y52Cz5Mwzx3kk7pwpu7mx7bAEA8+xMgmGY89wW3MjsY2Zt+0YD8ONnLSbD9sOSDBI5JhJMDYcJqxFHqil8GFbnQSD/BuitNTwGNxIP8a4sY0ZaAsPfi0GNxKBfmk7wGN4I4dZcsa5w5JtPGnFFgnHcGuRn5H+8MPHtjoeuRvpDz/2lNXx87Mf3njjQw0eh0EASAEPJDrYQEQCIQ0MDHVAzP6AsLpRMApGwSgYkQAAvelZLGujVpAAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Kunming University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Shicong","middleName":"","lastName":"Yang","suffix":""},{"id":456939146,"identity":"9b5388a5-6c8e-4178-86cf-7841c6883de3","order_by":2,"name":"Keqiang Xie","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kunming University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Keqiang","middleName":"","lastName":"Xie","suffix":""},{"id":456939147,"identity":"96a2baf7-6586-4a1b-a3cd-f9f1b76f9745","order_by":3,"name":"Kuixian Wei","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kunming University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kuixian","middleName":"","lastName":"Wei","suffix":""},{"id":456939148,"identity":"10689379-43b7-4748-97be-66d710fa9a73","order_by":4,"name":"Wenhui Ma","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kunming University of Science and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wenhui","middleName":"","lastName":"Ma","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-03-13 06:08:10","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6216803/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6216803/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-025-03380-x","type":"published","date":"2025-07-15T16:05:36+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":87220511,"identity":"bf1c0619-188c-4d7c-814c-31504cfc5a5a","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-07-21 16:12:38","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1659235,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6216803/v1_covered_a75781c8-3c41-4198-ab86-9cf2e515981a.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Experimental study on the sedimentation of silicon particles under the interference of flocculants","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"silicon","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scon","sideBox":"Learn more about [Silicon](https://www.springer.com/journal/12633)","snPcode":"12633","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/12633/3","title":"Silicon","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Diamond wire saw silicon waste slurry, High purity silicon separation, Interference sedimentation, Flocculant synergy","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6216803/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6216803/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eSilicon separation represents the initial step in the recovery of silicon from diamond wire saw silicon waste slurry. In the current recovery process, the relatively low recovery rate indicates an inadequacy in silicon separation. This article primarily focuses on the sedimentation of particle groups and delves into the interference sedimentation mechanism of particle swarms. The experimental results reveal that the optimal flocculant for promoting interference sedimentation is CPAM (Cationic Polyacrylamide). For 3.72 \u0026micro;m silicon particles, the effect is optimal when the CPAM concentration is set at 0.2% and the addition rate is 17%. And 0.59 \u0026micro;m silicon particles require a higher concentration of 0.4% concentration and 17% addition rate for CPAM, to make the particles settle. And by comparing the particle size results, it can be seen that the 0.59 \u0026micro;m silicon particles have more surface voids and tiny particles on the flocs, and a larger total contact area, requiring more flocculant addition. Therefore, the contact performance between particles and flocculants determines the effective level of flocculants. To enhance the contact performance between flocculants and particles, a certain proportion of PDDA was added while adding the optimal proportion of CPAM. The experimental results showed that the addition of PDDA could reduce the contact angle between particles and CPAM, improve the overall hydrophilicity of the suspension, and make it easier for CPAM to contact with silicon particles. Moreover, 0.5% PDDA was required for 3.72 \u0026micro;m silicon particles, and 1.5% PDDA was required for 0.59 \u0026micro;m silicon particles. Under these conditions, the flocculation speed and sedimentation efficiency of particles were improved.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Experimental study on the sedimentation of silicon particles under the interference of flocculants","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-05-16 13:02:21","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6216803/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-05-30T01:23:16+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-05-27T09:43:57+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-05-27T01:22:45+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"337341664553423815262900524945276593156","date":"2025-05-20T13:59:12+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"197945613680937459367853399445931442386","date":"2025-05-19T06:53:59+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-05-18T20:08:02+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"61895203523609456138062544588522183312","date":"2025-05-17T20:23:11+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-05-16T02:45:38+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"115283343628654385802922944389531064040","date":"2025-05-15T08:02:13+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"101018955138737360057691955602020335776","date":"2025-05-14T07:52:13+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-05-14T05:47:54+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-04-04T00:39:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-04-04T00:38:17+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Silicon","date":"2025-03-13T05:54:13+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"silicon","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scon","sideBox":"Learn more about [Silicon](https://www.springer.com/journal/12633)","snPcode":"12633","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/12633/3","title":"Silicon","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"78b7a2e9-b7b7-4ba6-9a99-2e36fe26244b","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 16th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-07-21T16:10:43+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6216803","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-025-03380-x","journal":{"identity":"silicon","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Silicon"},"publishedOn":"2025-07-15 16:05:36","publishedOnDateReadable":"July 15th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-05-16 13:02:21","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s12633-025-03380-x","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-025-03380-x","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6216803","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6216803","identity":"rs-6216803","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}