Research Background
Livestock and poultry farm wastewater contains a large number of pathogens and nutrients, making it a significant source of water pollution. This study investigated the treatment effects of PAM and its complexes on this type of wastewater, providing a new approach to livestock and poultry farm wastewater treatment.
Core Experimental Design Two experimental methods were employed:
- Column Experiment: Simulating the infiltration process of wastewater through soil.
- Surface Flow Experiment: Simulating the runoff process of wastewater on farmland surfaces. Four treatment schemes were set up:
- Control group (no treatment)
- PAM alone (35g)
- PAM + Al₂(SO₄)₃ composite treatment (35g + 350g)
- PAM + CaO composite treatment (35g + 350g) The treatment effects of three types of livestock and poultry manure (cow manure, fish manure, and pig manure) were tested, and the changes in microbial indicators (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci) and nutrient (ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, phosphate) content in the treated water were analyzed.
Key Research Findings
- Microbial Removal Efficacy
- PAM alone: Reduced total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and fecal streptococci in three types of fecal wastewater by 10-fold (removal rate 90%)
- PAM + Al₂(SO₄)₃ combined treatment: Reduced microbial numbers by 100-1000-fold (removal rate 99-99.9%)
- PAM + CaO combined treatment: Efficacy comparable to PAM + Al₂(SO₄)₃, with better removal effects on certain microorganisms. Particularly noteworthy is that these treatments significantly removed all tested microorganisms (including bacteria and fungi), demonstrating their broad-spectrum antibacterial properties and providing an effective means for controlling pathogenic pollution in water bodies.
- Nutrient Removal Efficacy • Ammonia Nitrogen (NH₄⁺) Removal: PAM composite treatment reduces ammonia nitrogen concentration in cow and pig manure wastewater by 20-60%. • Total Phosphorus (TP) Removal: PAM + Al₂(SO₄)₃ treatment reduces total phosphorus concentration in cow manure wastewater by 75%. • Phosphate (PO₄³⁻) Removal: PAM + CaO treatment reduces phosphate concentration in pig manure wastewater by 60%. In surface flow experiments, the nutrient concentration remained low even after the treated water flowed for 27 meters, demonstrating the durability of the treatment effect. Application Value and Recommendations: Research results indicate that PAM composite treatment technology has the following advantages: • High efficiency: It can remove pathogens and nutrients simultaneously in a single treatment. • Economic efficiency: Low PAM dosage (approximately 1 kg/ha), resulting in high cost-effectiveness. • Simplicity: Simple operation, requiring no complex equipment, suitable for promotion and application in livestock and poultry farms. It is recommended to install PAM composite treatment systems at the drainage outlets of livestock and poultry farms, especially during the rainy season, to significantly reduce pollutant inflow into surface water and protect water sources and downstream water environments.
Summary and Outlook: These two studies demonstrate the significant value of polyacrylamide in wastewater treatment from different perspectives: The first focuses on the research and application innovation of PAM-based smart materials, showcasing the enormous potential of these materials in industrial wastewater treatment and resource recovery; the second focuses on the application of PAM in livestock and poultry wastewater treatment, providing a practical technical solution for agricultural non-point source pollution control. With the development of green synthesis technology and biodegradable PAM, and its deep integration with cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, polyacrylamide wastewater treatment agents will play an increasingly important role in protecting the water environment and promoting sustainable development, contributing a “Chinese solution” to solving the global water crisis.
Research Boundaries:
- This literature review is based on research published between 2019 and 2025; some technologies may still be in the laboratory or small-scale application stage.
- The long-term ecological impacts of PAM in wastewater treatment in certain specific industries require further research.
- Differences in water quality in different regions may lead to varying treatment effects; in practical applications, parameters should be optimized according to local water quality characteristics.