Polymers in Wastewater Treatment
Polymers are mainly used as a way to increase the velocity of settling in clarifiers or increase the size of flocs for mechanical separation. Polymers are also widely used in the sludge dewatering processes to help create larger solids allowing for a better solid-liquid separation. Finally, polymers are an intricate part of the coagulation-flocculation process for high velocity treatment.
BENEFITS OF POLYMERS IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Aquasan can help you reduce and optimize your chemistry with polymers that will:
- Improve solids compaction (SVI)
- Remove suspended solids
- Increase hydraulic throughput capacity
- Reduce sludge volume
- Reduce trucking costs
There can be a diminishing return whereby you use too much polymer. It’s easier to use too much than not enough. We’ll help with the evaluations to help you find the right amount of polymer.
Data + Information
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POLYMER WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND FLOCCULATION PROCESS
Wastewater is usually negatively charged (anionic) and polymers provide a positive (cationic) charge that helps in liquid solid separation through flocculation. The polymers help form long chains of solids that produce materials called floc. Polymers are added with an eductor and funnel and normally require 1-4 hours of solution aging.
Coagulants leave a residual charge to the water, to which we want to counteract the charge with a polymer.
VARIATION OF POLYMERS FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Polymers come in a wide variety of weight, charge, density, and monomer subunits (smaller units that make up the polymer). There’s also a number of molecular variations such as linear, cross-linked, and structural. At Aquasan, we provide polymers with optimal change solubility, strength, and degradability. These characteristics help ensure that polymers hold together and are safe for the environment, all the while being cost effective.
All polymers and polyelectrolytes - we take what we coagulate and it gives us a small particle and we make it larger to apply a physical process to it. By floating, settling or squeezing to remove contaminants. When we say sludge dewatering, we have to add polymer to remove the sludge out of the water.
Organic chemistry - we don’t change the nature of the compound, but rather the molecular weight and percent charged. We are able to pinpoint what’s necessary. It’s like magnets - if I have too much of a charge on one side, I will start repulsing.
Coagulants leave a residual charge to the water, to which we want to counteract the charge with a polymer.
At Aquasan, our experts are ready to talk to you about the applications you need, provide a quote, and visit you on site to see your organization first hand.