POLYACRYLAMIDE- ▸ Flocculation: Solid-liquid separation in water and wastewater treatment.
- ▸ Sludge dewatering: Conditions sludge ahead of centrifuges and belt presses.
- ▸ Papermaking: Retention and drainage aid in paper manufacture.
- ▸ Mineral processing: Settling and clarification in thickeners.
A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
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Polyacrylamide (PAM, CAS 9003-05-8) is the workhorse high-molecular-weight flocculant for solid–liquid separation. RawSource supplies it in all three charge families — anionic PAM (APAM), cationic PAM (CPAM) and nonionic PAM (NPAM) — so the grade can be matched to the solids, the water chemistry and the dewatering equipment. This page is the overview; each grade has its own page with full specifications.
The three grades at a glance
Charge type is the primary selection axis; molecular weight and charge density (ionicity) are the two tunable parameters matched to the solids and the equipment. Compare the families side by side, then open the grade page for full data.
| Property | Anionic (APAM) | Cationic (CPAM) | Nonionic (NPAM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charge | Negative (carboxylate) | Positive (quaternary / DADMAC) | Neutral (~zero ionicity) |
| Typical molecular weight | ~6–20+ million | ~5–13 million | High (acrylamide homopolymer) |
| Optimal pH | Neutral–alkaline (7–10) | Acidic–neutral (4–9) | Wide / variable pH |
| Best-fit solids | Inorganic / post-coagulation, positively-charged | Organic-rich, negatively-charged (biosolids) | Variable pH, high-salinity streams |
| Primary applications | Clarification, mineral processing, EOR, paper | Sludge & biosolids dewatering, DAF, paper | Soil stabilization, high-salinity EOR, drilling |
| Defining strength | Largest segment; clarification & mineral solids | Fastest-growing; organic sludge dewatering | Salinity tolerance |
In depth: anionic vs cationic vs nonionic guide and the grades, make-down & dosing guide.
How polyacrylamide works
PAM is a long-chain polymer that aggregates fine suspended solids into large, settleable or filterable flocs by two mechanisms: charge neutralization (the polymer’s charge cancels the surface charge on the particles) and bridging (one long chain adsorbs onto many particles at once, binding them into a floc). Anionic and cationic grades are polyelectrolytes (charged); nonionic grades work mainly by bridging and tolerate high salinity. Background: what is flocculation and coagulants vs flocculants.
Applications by industry
PAM is used across water, mining, energy, paper and construction. The grade follows the charge of the solids and the pH of the stream:
| Industry | Application | Recommended grade |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal water & wastewater | Clarification / coagulant aid (potable: NSF/ANSI 60 grades) | Anionic |
| Municipal & industrial | Sludge / biosolids dewatering (belt press, centrifuge) | Cationic |
| Industrial wastewater | DAF, oil/water separation, emulsion breaking | Cationic |
| Mining & minerals | Thickeners, clarifiers, tailings dewatering | Anionic |
| Oil & gas | Friction reducer, polymer flooding / EOR | Anionic (HPAM) / Nonionic (high salinity) |
| Pulp & paper | Retention & drainage aid | Cationic |
| Construction & soil | Concrete anti-washout / soil & erosion control | Anionic / Nonionic |
Deep dives by use case: sludge dewatering & clarification, mining, tailings & mine water, oil & gas friction reducer & EOR, metal finishing & metallurgy wastewater, dust suppression & soil/erosion control and concrete anti-washout admixture.
How to select and dose
Selection is confirmed by jar tests or on-site trials, not theory: screen candidate grades against your actual stream to pick charge type, molecular weight/ionicity and dose before committing. PAM is supplied as a dry powder/granule (and as emulsions); dry grades must be made down — wetted and dissolved slowly into dilute solution (typically 0.1–0.5%) with adequate aging — to develop full viscosity without fish-eyes. See the grades, make-down & dosing guide for make-down and dosing detail.
Bulk supply and RFQ
RawSource supplies anionic, cationic and nonionic polyacrylamide in bulk (bags, supersacks) with CoA, TDS and SDS per lot, including NSF/ANSI 60-certified grades for potable-water use (confirm certification for your application). Tell us your stream (water/sludge/process), the solids and pH, your equipment, and target throughput, and we will recommend the grade and dose and quote it. Procurement context: wastewater treatment chemicals.
Typical Properties
Typical reference values, not a specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot governs.
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical / class | Polyacrylamide (acrylamide polymer) — flocculant |
| Grades supplied | Anionic (APAM), Cationic (CPAM), Nonionic (NPAM) |
| Physical form | Dry powder / granule (and emulsion grades) |
| Molecular weight | High (grade-dependent, ~5–20+ million) |
| CAS Number | 9003-05-8 (acrylamide polymer; grade copolymers vary) |
| Potable water | NSF/ANSI 60-certified grades available (confirm) |
| Handling | Refer to the current SDS; control residual acrylamide monomer per spec |
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades of polyacrylamide does RawSource supply?
RawSource supplies all three charge families — anionic (APAM), cationic (CPAM) and nonionic (NPAM) polyacrylamide — in a range of molecular weights and charge densities, as dry powder/granule (and emulsion) grades, with NSF/ANSI 60-certified grades available for potable water.
How do I choose between anionic, cationic and nonionic PAM?
Match charge to the solids: anionic for inorganic or post-coagulation (positively-charged) solids in neutral-to-alkaline water; cationic for organic-rich, negatively-charged sludge and biosolids; nonionic where pH varies or salinity is high. Confirm grade and dose with jar tests on your actual stream.
What is polyacrylamide used for?
Polyacrylamide is used as a flocculant and coagulant aid for solid-liquid separation in municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment, sludge dewatering, mining and mineral processing, oil & gas (friction reducer/EOR), pulp & paper, and soil/erosion and concrete applications.
How is polyacrylamide made down and dosed?
Dry PAM is made down by wetting and slowly dissolving it into a dilute (typically 0.1-0.5%) solution with adequate aging to develop viscosity without fish-eyes, then dosed to the stream; optimum dose is set by jar test. See the grades, make-down & dosing guide.
Is polyacrylamide safe for drinking water treatment?
NSF/ANSI 60-certified polyacrylamide grades are available for potable-water treatment, where residual acrylamide monomer is strictly limited; confirm the certification and limits for your application and jurisdiction, and consult the current SDS.
Disclaimer. Information on this page — including chemical properties, identifiers, hazard, transport (DOT/UN) and tariff (HS) classifications, and applications — is provided for general reference and is compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim, or advice. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, storage, transport or disposal, and confirm regulatory status, classification and suitability for your application and jurisdiction. Hazard, transport and tariff classifications must be verified for your specific shipment. RawSource makes no warranty, express or implied, and assumes no liability for use of this information.