With the acceleration of industrialization and the surge in urban populations, the treatment of recycled wastewater has become a critical environmental protection issue. Recycled wastewater originates from the recycling of materials like plastics and rubber and contains complex pollutants such as suspended matter, oil, and high-concentration organic matter. If discharged untreated, it can severely damage aquatic ecosystems. Polyacrylamide (PAM), as a highly effective polymer flocculant, plays a key role in treating this type of wastewater.
The polar groups on the PAM molecular chain impart unique purification capabilities. Firstly, through the adsorption-bridging effect, it forms “molecular bridges” between particles, allowing tiny suspended matter and colloidal particles to aggregate into large flocs, accelerating sedimentation and separation. Secondly, for charged pollutants, anionic or cationic PAM can neutralize the colloids through electrical neutralization, destabilizing the pollutants and allowing them to aggregate. Furthermore, PAM enhances the floc’s net-capturing and sweeping capabilities, effectively removing dissolved organic matter and oil.
In actual treatment, an inorganic coagulant such as polyaluminium chloride is typically added first for initial precipitation, followed by an appropriate amount of PAM (typically 5-50 mg/L) to enhance flocculation. After optimizing the dosage and reaction conditions through beaker tests, PAM can achieve a suspended solids removal rate exceeding 80% and a COD reduction of 40%-60%, significantly improving effluent quality.
Due to its high efficiency, low energy consumption, and ease of operation, PAM has become a mainstream agent for treating recycled wastewater. With the development of complex formulations and intelligent dosing technologies, its application prospects will expand, providing strong support for industrial wastewater treatment.
