The Application of Polyacrylamide in High-Salinity Wastewater Treatment
In high-salinity wastewater treatment, polyacrylamide (PAM) is primarily used as a flocculant during the pretreatment and sludge dewatering stages — not for directly removing salinity. The high-salt environment can significantly affect its performance, so both product selection and operational procedures require special attention.
Here are the key application points of PAM in High-salinity wastewater treatment:
I. Core Function: Assisting Solid-Liquid Separation, Not Desalination
The core function of PAM is to use adsorption bridging and charge neutralization to aggregate fine suspended particles, colloids, and biological sludge into larger flocs, which can then rapidly settle or be mechanically dewatered.
Within the high-salinity wastewater treatment chain, PAM is mainly used in two stages:
Pretreatment Stage: Before the wastewater enters membrane systems or evaporators, PAM is added to remove large particulate impurities and some organic matter, protecting downstream core equipment from clogging or fouling.
Sludge Dewatering Stage: After biological or other treatment processes, a large amount of saline sludge is generated. Adding cationic PAM for sludge conditioning enables rapid mud-water separation and produces a denser sludge cake for easier disposal.
II. Product Selection: Nonionic is the Top Choice, Cationic Depends on Conditions
Selecting the right type of PAM for high-salinity wastewater is critical — choosing the wrong type can render it completely ineffective.
Nonionic PAM: Strongest Salt Resistance, the Preferred Choice for Complex Water Quality.
High-salinity wastewater often contains large amounts of calcium and magnesium ions, as well as complex charged pollutants. Nonionic PAM has no charge on its molecular chains and primarily relies on its long polymer chains to entangle and capture surrounding suspended particles. This physical bridging action is unaffected by the shielding effect of high salt concentrations, making it highly adaptable and delivering stable settling performance in high-salinity, acidic, or complex water conditions found in industries such as metallurgy and chemical processing.
Cationic PAM: Specifically for Sludge Dewatering; Requires Overcoming Salt-Induced Charge Interference.
For dewatering organic sludge from biological treatment of high-salinity wastewater, cationic products are typically required. However, high salt concentrations can compress the polymer chains and interfere with the charge neutralization reaction between the PAM and sludge particles. Therefore, in such scenarios, specific cationic types with higher ionic degree and moderate molecular weight are often needed to counteract salt interference and achieve effective dewatering.
Anionic PAM: Narrower Applicability; Relies on Experimental Confirmation.
Anionic PAM carries a negative charge and is mainly used to treat positively charged suspended solids. However, in high-salt environments, its long chains are prone to curling due to the presence of salt ions, shortening the effective chain length and significantly reducing its bridging capability. Unless laboratory tests clearly demonstrate good performance, anionic PAM is generally not recommended for direct use in high-salinity wastewater.
III. Operation and Key Considerations
Always Conduct Jar Tests: High-salinity wastewater quality varies greatly, and there is no one-size-fits-all product. It is essential to conduct beaker experiments using actual water samples in the laboratory to identify the most suitable PAM type, molecular weight, and dosage. This is a critical step to ensure effectiveness and avoid waste.
Dissolution and Preparation: It is recommended to dissolve PAM using clean tap water or deionized water, preparing a dilute solution of 0.1%-0.2%. When dissolving, slowly and evenly add the powder under low-speed stirring (60-200 rpm) to prevent the formation of clumps or "fish-eyes," which can clog pumps and significantly reduce performance.
Prepare Fresh and Use Promptly: PAM solutions have limited stability. Anionic and nonionic PAM solutions can generally be stored for up to one week, while cationic PAM solutions are recommended to be used within 24 hours. The more dilute the solution, the shorter the storage time.
Monitor Water Quality Fluctuations: If the salinity, temperature, or pH of the high-salinity wastewater fluctuates significantly, the previously optimized dosing regimen may quickly become ineffective and must be adjusted in a timely manner.
In summary, PAM acts as a "cleanup agent" in high-salinity wastewater treatment. The core principle can be boiled down to one sentence: Choose nonionic for pretreatment, cationic for sludge dewatering, and let laboratory jar tests have the final say in all selections.
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As the world grapples with escalating water scarcity and stringent environmental regulations, the polyacrylamide (PAM) industry stands at the forefront of sustainable solutions. Jiangsu Hengfeng Fine Chemical Co., Ltd., a premier manufacturer of high-quality PAM powder and emulsion, has emerged as a trailblazer by integrating cutting-edge AI technology with eco-friendly production practices—aligning with 2026’s top global trends in sustainability and digital transformation.
The Global Context: Water Crisis & AI-Driven Innovation
2026 has witnessed a surge in Google searches for "sustainable water treatment", "AI in chemical manufacturing", and "green polymer solutions", reflecting urgent demand for technologies that balance industrial efficiency with environmental stewardship. The polyacrylamide market, projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% (2026–2028) to reach $17.1 billion, is driven by tightening EPA and EU wastewater standards, as well as the booming oil and gas sector’s need for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) solutions. Concurrently, Google’s 2026 I/O conference highlighted Gemini 3.5 AI models and "Agentic AI" as game-changers for industrial optimization—trends Hengfeng has strategically embraced.
Hengfeng’s 25-Year Legacy: Quality Meets Innovation
With 25 years of specialized experience, Jiangsu Hengfeng Fine Chemical has solidified its position as a trusted global supplier of PAM products, including:
Anionic PAM Powder/Emulsion: Ideal for wastewater treatment, mining, and EOR.
Cationic PAM Powder/Emulsion: Perfect for sludge dewatering and municipal water purification.
Non-Ionic PAM: Used in paper manufacturing and soil stabilization.
Unlike generic manufacturers, Hengfeng has invested heavily in AI-powered production lines that leverage real-time data analytics to optimize polymerization, reduce waste, and ensure consistent product quality—cutting production costs by 15–20% while minimizing carbon footprints. This digital transformation aligns with Google’s vision of AI-driven industrial efficiency, making Hengfeng a standout in the global PAM market.
Sustainability at the Core: Green Chemistry for a Circular Economy
In 2026, circular materials and biodegradable polymers dominate sustainability conversations, and Hengfeng is leading the charge in eco-friendly PAM production. The company’s state-of-the-art facility in Jiangsu adheres to ISO 14001 environmental standards and produces low-residual PAM (residual monomer
A textile dyeing factory located in Rayong experienced serious sludge dewatering problems in its plate-and-frame filter press system after expanding production capacity. The sludge generated from the DAF and physicochemical treatment systems contained high levels of surfactants, dye residues, and organic matter, resulting in poor dewatering performance.
The plant faced high sludge moisture content, sticky sludge cakes, frequent filter cloth blockage, and unstable filter press operation. By introducing Hengfeng Nonionic 1185 and optimizing the sludge conditioning process, the factory successfully improved dewatering efficiency and stabilized long-term operation.
Site Overview
Industry: Textile dyeing & finishingLocation: RayongSludge treatment capacity: 70–90 tons/day (wet sludge)
Sludge Characteristics
· High organic and surfactant content
· Strong viscosity and compressibility
· Fine colloidal particles and fiber residues
· Sludge concentration: 1.5–2.5%
Dewatering System
· Filter press units
· Polymer prepared at 0.1% concentration
· High-pressure mechanical filtration system
Initial Issues
Before optimization, the plant experienced:
· Sludge cake moisture content of 82–85%
· Sticky sludge cakes difficult to discharge
· Filtration cycles exceeding 3–4 hours
· Frequent filter cloth clogging
· High polymer consumption with unstable performance
· Sludge leakage between filter plates
Frequent shutdowns for cleaning and maintenance reduced overall production efficiency.
Problem Analysis
After on-site inspection and sludge testing, Hengfeng’s technical team identified several key issues.
1. Weak Sludge Conditioning
The previously used polymer produced loose flocs that collapsed easily under high-pressure squeezing, resulting in poor filtration permeability.
2. High Organic & Surfactant Interference
Residual surfactants and organic matter increased sludge viscosity and water retention, making dewatering more difficult.
3. Improper Polymer Preparation
Insufficient polymer aging time reduced molecular chain extension and weakened flocculation performance.
4. Excessive Shear Force
Strong agitation after polymer addition damaged floc structure before entering the filter press.
Technical Solution
Optimized Polymer Selection
Hengfeng recommended Nonionic Polyacrylamide 1185, featuring:
· Strong adsorption and bridging capability
· Excellent compatibility with textile sludge
· Improved sludge cake permeability
· Better resistance to pressure filtration shear
The product significantly improved floc density and filtration performance.
Process Optimization
Polymer Preparation
· Polymer concentration increased to 0.15%
· Aging time extended to 60–90 minutes
Dosage Optimization
· Dosage adjusted to 4.0–5.0 kg/t DS
· Fine-tuned according to cake dryness and filtrate clarity
Mixing Optimization
· Polymer injection point moved closer to the filter press feed tank
· Mixing intensity reduced after polymer addition
This preserved floc integrity and improved filtration efficiency.
Equipment & Operation Optimization
Hengfeng engineers also assisted in optimizing:
· Feed pressure sequence
· Filtration cycle timing
· Plate squeezing pressure
· Filter cloth cleaning frequency
These adjustments reduced cloth blockage and improved continuous operation stability.
Performance Results
After optimization and continuous monitoring:
· Sludge cake moisture decreased to 72–76%
· Filtration cycle time shortened to 2–2.5 hours
· Sludge cakes became firm and easy to discharge
· Filtrate clarity improved significantly
· Filter cloth clogging was greatly reduced
· Polymer consumption decreased by 15–20%
· Overall system achieved stable continuous operation
The plant successfully reduced sludge disposal costs and maintenance downtime.
Project Outcome
Through optimized polymer selection, improved sludge conditioning, and standardized process control, Hengfeng successfully enhanced the performance of the plate-and-frame filter press system in textile sludge dewatering.
This project demonstrated that efficient sludge dewatering depends not only on equipment, but also on proper polymer selection, dosing strategy, and operational optimization.
Hengfeng Commitment
At Jiangsu Hengfeng Fine Chemical Co., Ltd., we provide more than flocculants —
We deliver complete sludge dewatering solutions supported by:
· Advanced polymer technology
· Site-specific product optimization
· On-site technical support
· Operator training
· Long-term operational guidance
With Hengfeng Nonionic 1185, textile sludge dewatering systems can achieve lower sludge moisture, higher filtration efficiency, and stable long-term operation.