Research Background and Overview
Polyacrylamide (PAM), as an important synthetic polyelectrolyte, occupies a core position in wastewater treatment due to its tunable structure and highly efficient flocculation properties. It is a hydrophilic polymer, insoluble in organic solvents, and possesses extremely high affinity for suspended particles in water. It can significantly improve solid-liquid separation efficiency through charge neutralization and adsorption bridging.
Core Content
Classification and Mechanism of Action of PAM
Anionic PAM (APAM): Suitable for treating wastewater containing inorganic suspended solids, it coagulates positively charged particles through charge neutralization.
Cationic PAM (CPAM): Particularly suitable for treating organic pollution and sludge dewatering, it destabilizes negatively charged colloids through a dual action of charge neutralization and bridging.
Nonionic PAM (NPAM): Suitable for neutral or weakly acidic conditions, it adsorbs particles through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces.
The main mechanisms of PAM action include: charge neutralization (eliminating particle surface charge), adsorption bridging (long molecular chains connecting multiple particles), and net-sweeping (forming a three-dimensional network to capture particles).
Development of Novel PAM-Based Smart Materials
XGX-g-PAA Hydrogel: A novel adsorbent material grafted with xanthan gum xanthan ester and polyacrylic acid, exhibiting an impressive swelling ratio of 26,375.5%, with removal efficiencies of 93.31% for Cu²⁺ and 91.51% for Co²⁺, and maximum adsorption capacities of 373.13 mg/g and 299.40 mg/g, respectively. This material can be reused more than 5 times, providing an economical and sustainable solution for heavy metal treatment in industrial wastewater.
Chitosan-Polyacrylamide Composite Flocculant: Combining the biodegradability of natural polymers with the high efficiency of synthetic polymers, this flocculant improves COD removal rate by 40% and reduces sludge production by 25% when treating dyeing and printing wastewater.
Innovative Integration of PAM and Artificial Intelligence: Recent research combines PAM applications with AI technology, using machine learning algorithms to optimize reagent dosage and achieve “on-demand” dosing. A metallurgical company in Yunnan province saved 900,000 yuan in chemical costs in 20 days after applying an AI model, while simultaneously improving the stability of effluent water quality by 30%. This intelligent system can analyze water quality data in real time and predict the optimal dosage, representing the future direction of intelligent wastewater treatment.
Application Prospects
With increasingly stringent environmental standards, PAM-based smart materials will play a greater role in the following areas:
Deep treatment of industrial wastewater (papermaking, dyeing, electroplating)
Sludge reduction and resource utilization
Heavy metal pollution remediation
Decentralized rural wastewater treatment
The development of biodegradable PAM and green synthesis technologies will further reduce environmental risks, enabling these materials to occupy a more important position in sustainable water treatment.
Polyacrylamide-Based Polymers: Smart Materials in Wastewater Treatment