Polyacrylamide PAM for water treatment

Polyacrylamide (PAM, CAS 9003-05-8) is a high-molecular-weight, water-soluble polymer that has become the work-horse flocculant in modern water and wastewater treatment. Produced by the controlled polymerisation of acrylamide monomers, PAM is supplied as anionic, cationic or non-ionic grades, each engineered to match specific influent chemistry and process targets. In municipal plants, low-dose (0.5–2 mg L⁻¹) anionic emulsions dramatically accelerate settling in primary and tertiary clarifiers, increasing hydraulic capacity by 20–30 % while cutting sludge volume. Cationic powders excel in industrial effluents such as pulp & paper, textiles and food processing, where they neutralise negatively charged colloids, capture colour bodies and enhance dewatering on belt presses and centrifuges. Non-ionic grades provide shear-stable viscosity for tailings thickening and mining water recycling. PAM is non-toxic when formulated correctly, meets NSF/ANSI Standard 60 for potable water, and is readily biodegradable under aerobic conditions. Supplied as powder, emulsion or dispersion, it can be prepared on-site with simple make-down systems, delivering rapid return on investment through lower chemical consumption, reduced energy use and improved effluent quality.