The papermaking industry plays a vital role in modern society, but at the same time, the papermaking process also produces a large amount of industrial wastewater. These wastewater contain a large amount of fibers, fillers, resins, alkalis, bleaching agents and other chemicals. If not effectively treated, direct discharge will cause serious pollution to the environment.Therefore, how to efficiently treat paper mill wastewater has become a major challenge in the field of environmental protection.Polyacrylamide (PAM), as an efficient wastewater treatment agent, plays an important role in the wastewater treatment of paper mills. This article will discuss its application and advantages in detail.

Basic principles of polyacrylamide

Polyacrylamide is a water-soluble polymer with a high molecular weight and unique structure.The amide group (-CONH2) in its chemical structure has strong adsorption and can effectively capture suspended particles and organic matter in wastewater.At the same time, the polyacrylamide molecular chain can be expanded in water, and the dispersed fine particles can gather into large particles through bridging, thereby accelerating the sedimentation of the particles and the separation of solid and liquid.

Loading of polyacrylamide products for wastewater treatment in paper mills
In the wastewater treatment of paper mills, polyacrylamide is mainly used as a flocculant.The role of the flocculant is to neutralize the electric charge on the surface of the particles and bridge the fine suspended solids in the wastewater into larger flocculants (flocculants), thereby increasing the sedimentation rate and speeding up the clarification process of the wastewater.This process not only contributes to the removal of suspended solids in wastewater, but also effectively reduces the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) of wastewater, thereby improving the overall effect of wastewater treatment.

Application of polyacrylamide in wastewater treatment of paper mills

Removal of suspended solids

Paper mill wastewater contains a large amount of fibers and fillers, and these suspended solids are difficult to completely remove by traditional physical methods.By adding polyacrylamide, these fine suspended particles can be effectively flocculated into large particles, making it easier to be separated in a sedimentation tank or centrifuge.This process significantly improves the clarity of wastewater and lays the foundation for subsequent treatment processes.

Sludge dewatering

In the process of papermaking wastewater treatment, the generation of sludge is inevitable.The high moisture content and large volume of sludge bring great difficulties to treatment and disposal.The application of polyacrylamide in sludge dewatering can significantly improve the dewatering efficiency of sludge, reduce the volume of sludge, and reduce the cost of sludge treatment.Through the flocculation effect of PAM, the water in the sludge is effectively separated, and finally a sludge cake with a low moisture content is obtained, which is convenient for subsequent treatment or resource utilization.

Wastewater reuse

In the wastewater treatment of paper mills, the water reuse rate is one of the important indicators to measure the treatment effect.The wastewater treated with polyacrylamide has significantly improved its water quality due to the greatly reduced content of suspended solids and organic matter.This not only contributes to the recycling of wastewater and reduces the consumption of water resources, but also effectively reduces production costs and enhances the environmental protection image of paper companies.

Reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD)

The high content of organic matter in papermaking wastewater leads to high COD and BOD values, and direct discharge will cause pollution to water bodies.During the flocculation process, polyacrylamide can significantly reduce COD and BOD values by capturing and removing organic matter from wastewater, and meet environmental protection emission standards.This not only reduces the impact on the environment, but also reduces the demand for chemicals in the subsequent treatment process and reduces operating costs.

Polyacrylamide products are being loaded
Advantages of polyacrylamide

High efficiency

As an efficient flocculant, polyacrylamide has a molecular chain structure that can quickly capture and gather suspended particles in wastewater to form flocs.Compared with traditional flocculants, PAM has a more significant flocculation effect and requires less dosage, which makes its application in paper mill wastewater treatment more economical and efficient.

Wide adaptability

Polyacrylamide is suitable for different types of papermaking wastewater treatment. Whether it is high-concentration black liquid wastewater or low-concentration white water wastewater, PAM can have a good flocculation effect.In addition, PAM can also be used in combination with other treatment agents to further improve the effect of wastewater treatment.

Environmental protection

Polyacrylamide itself is non-toxic and harmless, and will not produce secondary pollution during use.This makes it a green and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment agent, which meets the current requirements of environmental protection.In addition, the use of PAM can significantly reduce the content of suspended solids and organic matter in wastewater and reduce the pollution load on water bodies.

Easy to operate

Polyacrylamide is easy to use, just dissolve it in water to make a flocculant solution and add it to the wastewater treatment system.There is no need for complex operation processes, which is convenient for automated control and large-scale application.

In addition, in the wastewater treatment process of paper mills, the role of polyacrylamide (PAM) is not limited to its basic function as a flocculant, but can also further explore its potential application value and advantages from multiple angles to help achieve more comprehensive and sustainable wastewater management.