Polyacrylamide (PAM)

Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer widely used as a flocculant, thickening agent, and process aid in water treatment and various industrial applications. Also known as PAM, Polyacrylamide Polymer, or Acrylamide Polymer, it is available in different ionic forms, including anionic polyacrylamide (APAM), cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM), and nonionic polyacrylamide (NPAM).

With its excellent flocculation, adsorption, bridging, and thickening properties, Polyacrylamide helps improve solid-liquid separation, sludge dewatering, water clarification, and process efficiency. PAM is commonly used in municipal wastewater treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, mining and mineral processing, oilfield operations, pulp and paper production, and sludge management.

CAS No.: 9003-05-8

Polyacrylamide Product Types

Anionic Polyacrylamide (APAM)

Anionic Polyacrylamide is commonly used in wastewater treatment, mineral processing, mining, and oilfield applications. Its negatively charged polymer chains can promote the aggregation and separation of suspended particles, making it suitable for clarification and solid-liquid separation.

Typical applications include:

• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Municipal wastewater treatment
• Mining and mineral processing
• Coal washing
• Tailings treatment
• Oilfield enhanced oil recovery
• Sludge dewatering
• Paper and pulp processing

Cationic Polyacrylamide (CPAM)

Cationic Polyacrylamide is primarily used for sludge dewatering and wastewater treatment, particularly where organic suspended solids and sludge require efficient separation. The cationic charge helps neutralize negatively charged particles and promotes rapid floc formation.

Typical applications include:

• Municipal sewage treatment
• Industrial wastewater treatment
• Sludge dewatering
• Food processing wastewater
• Paper mill wastewater
• Textile wastewater
• Chemical industry wastewater
• Sludge thickening and dewatering

Nonionic Polyacrylamide (NPAM)

Nonionic Polyacrylamide is suitable for applications where a low-charge or nonionic polymer is required. It can be used as a flocculant and process aid in selected wastewater treatment, mining, and industrial applications.

Typical applications include:

• Mineral processing
• Wastewater treatment
• Sludge treatment
• Textile processing
• Paper production
• Industrial solid-liquid separation

Polyacrylamide for Water Treatment

Polyacrylamide is widely used as a water treatment flocculant because it can promote the aggregation of fine suspended particles into larger flocs, facilitating sedimentation, clarification, filtration, and sludge separation.

Depending on wastewater characteristics, pH, suspended solids, particle charge, and treatment process, different PAM grades and molecular weights may be selected.

PAM can be used in:

• Wastewater clarification
• Sludge dewatering
• Primary and secondary treatment
• Industrial effluent treatment
• Municipal sewage treatment
• Mining wastewater treatment
• Coal washing wastewater
• Paper mill wastewater
• Textile wastewater

The appropriate PAM grade and dosage should be determined through laboratory jar testing or application-specific testing.

Polyacrylamide for Mining and Mineral Processing

Polyacrylamide is used in mining and mineral processing to improve solid-liquid separation and tailings treatment. It can assist in the settling of fine mineral particles and improve the efficiency of thickening and clarification processes.

Typical applications include:

• Coal washing
• Iron ore processing
• Copper ore processing
• Gold mining
• Mineral tailings treatment
• Concentrate thickening
• Mine wastewater treatment
• Slurry clarification

Polyacrylamide for Oilfield Applications

Selected Polyacrylamide grades are used in oilfield operations, including enhanced oil recovery (EOR), drilling fluids, profile control, and mobility control. PAM can increase the viscosity of injected water and help improve sweep efficiency in suitable reservoir applications.

Typical oilfield applications include:

• Enhanced oil recovery
• Polymer flooding
• Mobility control
• Drilling fluids
• Profile control
• Water shutoff applications

Product selection should be based on reservoir conditions, salinity, temperature, viscosity requirements, and compatibility with the injection system.

Polyacrylamide for Pulp and Paper

PAM is also used in the pulp and paper industry as a process aid for retention, drainage, flocculation, and wastewater treatment. Properly selected polymer grades can help improve fiber and filler retention and support efficient wastewater clarification.

Applications include:

• Paper mill wastewater treatment
• Pulp processing
• Retention and drainage
• Fiber recovery
• Sludge dewatering
• Process water clarification

Key Features of Polyacrylamide

• Excellent flocculation performance
• Water-soluble polymer
• Available in anionic, cationic and nonionic grades
• Different molecular weights and charge densities available
• Suitable for water and wastewater treatment
• Effective for solid-liquid separation
• Widely used in mining and mineral processing
• Applicable to sludge dewatering
• Suitable for selected oilfield applications
• Available in customized grades according to application requirements

Polyacrylamide Technical Specifications

How to Select the Right Polyacrylamide?

Selecting the correct PAM grade depends on the characteristics of the application and wastewater or process stream. Important factors include:

1. Ionic Type
Choose anionic, cationic, or nonionic PAM according to particle charge and treatment requirements.

2. Molecular Weight
Different molecular weights provide different bridging and flocculation characteristics.

3. Charge Density
Charge density is particularly important when selecting cationic or anionic PAM for wastewater and sludge treatment.

4. pH and Water Quality
The pH, salinity, hardness, temperature, and composition of the water can affect polymer performance.

5. Dosage
The optimum dosage should be established through laboratory testing or on-site trials rather than relying on a fixed dosage for all applications.

Packaging and Storage

Polyacrylamide is commonly supplied in moisture-resistant bags and should be stored in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area. Keep the product sealed and protected from moisture to maintain its physical properties and handling performance.

Standard packaging can include 25 kg bags, with customized packaging available according to customer requirements.

Why Choose Our Polyacrylamide?

We supply Polyacrylamide for a wide range of industrial applications and can provide different ionic types, molecular weights, charge densities, and specifications according to customer requirements.

Our technical team can assist customers in selecting a suitable PAM grade based on:

• Wastewater characteristics
• Industry and application
• Sludge type
• pH conditions
• Suspended solids concentration
• Required flocculation performance
• Solid-liquid separation process
• Existing treatment equipment

For bulk orders, we can provide technical specifications, COA, SDS, product samples, packaging options, and customized product solutions according to project requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Polyacrylamide (PAM)?

Polyacrylamide is a water-soluble synthetic polymer commonly used as a flocculant and process aid in water treatment, wastewater treatment, mining, oilfield, and paper manufacturing applications.

What is the CAS number of Polyacrylamide?

The CAS number of Polyacrylamide is 9003-05-8.

What are the main types of Polyacrylamide?

The main commercial types are Anionic Polyacrylamide (APAM), Cationic Polyacrylamide (CPAM), and Nonionic Polyacrylamide (NPAM).

What is Polyacrylamide used for?

Polyacrylamide is widely used for water clarification, wastewater treatment, sludge dewatering, mining and mineral processing, oilfield applications, and pulp and paper processing.

Which Polyacrylamide is best for wastewater treatment?

There is no single PAM grade that is best for all wastewater. The appropriate product depends on the wastewater composition, particle characteristics, sludge type, pH, ionic conditions, and treatment process. Laboratory jar testing is recommended for product selection.

Can Polyacrylamide be customized?

Yes. PAM can be supplied in different ionic types, molecular weights, charge densities, and specifications to meet different industrial applications and treatment conditions.

Request a Polyacrylamide Quote

Looking for a reliable Polyacrylamide (PAM) supplier or manufacturer?

Contact us for product specifications, COA, SDS, samples, pricing, packaging information, and bulk supply options.

Product: Polyacrylamide / PAM
CAS No.: 9003-05-8
Grades: APAM / CPAM / NPAM
Applications: Water Treatment / Wastewater Treatment / Mining / Oilfield / Pulp & Paper

Send us your required PAM type, molecular weight, charge density, quantity, and application, and our technical team can recommend a suitable grade.