Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a linear water-soluble polymer, widely recognized as a "versatile industrial additive". With its exceptional flocculation, thickening, filtration aid, and drag reduction properties, PAM has been extensively applied across numerous industrial sectors, including water treatment, papermaking, petroleum extraction, mining and metallurgy, and textile printing. This article provides a systematic overview of PAM's classification, core functions, and application value across multiple industries.
Based on the electrical charge carried by its molecular chains, PAM is primarily classified into four types:
Anionic Polyacrylamide (APAM): Carries a negative charge, suitable for treating wastewater with coarse suspended particles, positive charges, and neutral or alkaline pH, such as steel plant wastewater, coal washing wastewater, and metallurgical wastewater.
Cationic Polyacrylamide (CPAM): Carries a positive charge, effectively adsorbing negatively charged suspended particles; widely used in sludge dewatering, organic wastewater treatment (e.g., alcohol plants, dyeing mills), and papermaking retention and drainage aids.
Nonionic Polyacrylamide (NPAM): Carries no charge, suitable for acidic wastewater treatment, textile sizing, and sand fixation.
Amphoteric Polyacrylamide: Contains both cationic and anionic groups on the molecular chain, suitable for complex water quality conditions, such as high-salinity white water systems in papermaking.
PAM is one of the most widely used high-efficiency flocculants. In water treatment, PAM causes suspended particles to aggregate into large flocs through "adsorption bridging," accelerating sedimentation and achieving solid-liquid separation. Research data show that in coal chemical wastewater treatment, at a PAM dosage of 5.5 mg/L, total phosphorus removal reached 76.00%, and ammonia nitrogen removal reached 67.50%, significantly outperforming traditional inorganic flocculants.
In papermaking, PAM is primarily used as a paper strength agent, retention and drainage aid, and fiber dispersant. Cationic PAM can directly adsorb onto negatively charged pulp fibers, significantly improving the retention of fine fibers and fillers while enhancing paper strength and formation.
In oilfield development, PAM is used as a flooding agent and drilling fluid additive. Particularly in polymer flooding technology, PAM enhances crude oil recovery by increasing the viscosity of injected water. Additionally, quick-dissolving PAM products can withstand high-temperature, high-pressure deep-sea environments, ensuring operational safety and efficiency.
