Polyacrylamide (PAM)

Brief introduction for water treatmentPAM is a water-soluble polymeric flocculant, including anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric types. It agglomerates impurities by charge neutralization and adsorption bridging for sedimentation, applied in wastewater clarification and sludge dewatering.

• Anionic: sedimentation of inorganic wastewater from mining, coal washing, etc.

• Cationic: sludge dewatering for municipal and organic wastewater

• Nonionic: acidic and high-salinity wastewaterNote: Drinking-water grade has strict limits on residual acrylamide monomer.

Global market highlights

1. Water treatment is the largest application field of PAM. Global demand keeps growing. Asia-Pacific is the main production area with large exports from China.

2. Strict regulations in Europe and America. Low-residual and drinking-water-suitable grades are preferred. Salt-tolerant and biodegradable modified PAM are under development.

3. Wastewater infrastructure in Southeast Asia and India boosts demand for cationic PAM; emulsion products are popular.

4. Overseas manufacturers expand local capacity to reduce reliance on Asian supplies. Clients also focus on performance for sludge resource recovery.