biostudies-literatureLiu YNational Natural Science Foundation of China28329-28340https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9084301biostudies-literatureUnknown8(50)In the face of complex water quality changes, the application of existing cationic polyacrylamide has been largely limited. In this study, a series of cationic polyacrylamides (TPADs) with excellent flocculation/dewatering performance and low dosage were synthesized through photocatalytic surface initiation using acrylamide (AM) and acryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride (DAC) as monomers and nano-TiO₂ as an initiator. Characterization using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the structural and morphological properties of TPADs. The initiation mechanism was described and the study onRSC advancesSynthesis of a cationic polyacrylamide by a photocatalytic surface-initiated method and evaluation of its flocculation and dewatering performance: nano-TiO₂ as a photo initiator.PMC908430121477010Wang MLiu YZheng HZheng XZhao CRen JWang YfalseSynthesis of a cationic polyacrylamide by a photocatalytic surface-initiated method and evaluation of its flocculation and dewatering performance: nano-TiO₂ as a photo initiator.In the face of complex water quality changes, the application of existing cationic polyacrylamide has been largely limited. In this study, a series of cationic polyacrylamides (TPADs) with excellent flocculation/dewatering performance and low dosage were synthesized through photocatalytic surface initiation using acrylamide (AM) and acryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride (DAC) as monomers and nano-TiO₂ as an initiator. Characterization using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the structural and morphological properties of TPADs. The initiation mechanism was described and the study on2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Aug2025-04-19T13:19:31.645Z2025-04-19T13:19:31.645ZS-EPMC90843013554249510.1039/c8ra05622f