Experts in Chem-Feed and Water Treatment Polymer Applications Understanding Polymer Activation.

Experts in Chem-Feed and Water Treatment

Polymer ApplicationsUnderstanding Polymer Activation


Why Polymer?

Helping particles settle faster

Improving liquid/solid separation


Some Applications

ClarifiersPrimary CoagulationPlate & Frame PressRotary Drum ThickenerBelt PressDrying BedsGravity Belt ThickenerCentrifugesPaper MachinesMining & Metal ProcessingPaint BoothsEnhanced Oil Recovery


Settling Rates

Diameter of Particle, mm Order of Size Total Surface

AreaTime Required

to Settle

10.0

1.0

0.1

0.01

0.001

0.0001

0.00001

0.000001

Gravel

Coarse Sand

Fine Sand

Silt

Bacteria

Colloidal particles

Colloidal particles

Color particles

0.487 sq in

4.87 sq in

48.7 sq in

3.38 sq ft

33.8 sq ft

3.8 sq yd

0.7 acre

7.0 acre

0.3 sec

3.0 sec

38 sec

33 min

55 hr

230 days

6.3 yrs

63 yrs


Inorganic Salts

Common Name FormulaEquivalent

weightpH at 1%

Availability

Alum Al2(SO4) 3 * 14H2O 100 3 - 4 Lump: 17.5% Al2O3

Liquid: 8.5% Al2O3

Lime Ca(OH) 2 40 12 Lump: as CaOPowder : 93-95%Slurry: 15-20%

Ferric chloride FeCl3 * 6H2O 91 3 - 4 Lump: 20% FeLiquid: 20% Fe

Ferric sulfate Fe2SO4 * 3H2O 51.5 3 - 4 Granular: 18.5% Fe

Copperas FeSO4 * 7H2O 139 3 - 4 Granular: 20% Fe

Sodium aluminate Na2Al2O4 100 11 - 12

Flake: 46% Al2O3

Liquid: 25% Al2O3


Inorganic Salts

pH dependent Typically higher dosage and increased sludge volumes No reduction of organic residuals Weak flocs

Low Cost

Advantages

Disadvantages


Synthetic Organic Polymers

Slippery – safety hazard Needs proper mixing & activation Handling and proper application effects performance

Strong Stable Floc Improved dewatering No additional sludge volume Effective over wide pH range Can reduce organic molecules

Advantages

Disadvantages


Polymerization

Monomers+

Catalyst(Initiator)

Polymer


Polymer Characteristics

Coagulant Flocculant Molecular Weight Activity Charge Density Functional Group Charge


Low - Coagulant

High - Flocculant

Molecular Weight


Polymer Characteristics

Coagulant Flocculant Molecular Weight Functional Group Activity Charge Density Charge


CH2=CH

CO

NH2

|

|

CH2=CH

CO

NH2

|

|

CH2=CH

CO

NH2

|

|

Polyacrylamide


++ ++++

++

++

++++

++

++++

++

Charge Density


Non-ionic = no charge

Anionic = negative (-) charge

Cationic = positive (+) charge

Polymer Charges


Form

Coagulant

Mannich

Emulsion/Dispersion

Dry


Solution Polymers Primary coagulants 10% - 50% active Low molecular weight 5K - 200K Appearance - clear homogeneous liquid Package - Pails, Drums, Bins, Bulk Easy to dilute “Neat” product easy to pump Susceptible to Freeze Charge - cationic, anionic

Forms Of Polymers


MANNICH - Solution Flocculant 4- 6% active Low molecular weight segments 5K - 200K Appearance - clear to amber liquid Package - Bulk Can Freeze “Viscous” can be hard to pump Viscosity temperature dependent Fumes are “unpleasant” Charge - cationic only

Forms Of Polymers


Emulsions/Dispersions 25 - 55% active Appearance - white liquid Medium to High molecular weight: 5M - 10M Appearance - clear homogeneous liquid Package - Pails, Drums, Bins, Bulk “Neat” product easy to pump but!! Needs “Activation” Susceptible to Freeze Will settle in “neat” form Charge - cationic, anionic, non-ionic

Forms Of Polymers


Emulsion Polymers

Anionic, Cationic, Nonionic Flocculant 25% to 55% active Polymer gel size 0.1 to 5 µm

Oil

Polymer

Water


2.5 microns = 0.0001”

If MW is 10 million 350,000 molecules in a gel One molecule has 150,000 monomers

How Complex Is A Polymer Structure?


Emulsions/Dispersions

They separate in storage!

Separated Oil Layer

Emulsion Polymer

Settled Out Polymer


Forms Of Polymers

Dry Polymers 90% - 95% active All molecular weights to 20M+ Appearance - powder, pellets, granules, beads Package - bags, bulk bags Must be wetted Dusting is safety concern Shelf life in years Charge - cationic, anionic, non-ionic


Polymers (Polyelectroylytes)

How they work

How we characterize them

How to make them work


Coagulation


Coagulation

Charge Neutralization

Double Layer Compression

Enmeshment



-

+

+

++

+

++

++

+

-

-

-

-

+

+

++

+

++

++

+

-

-

-

-+

+

+

+

+

++

++

+

+

-

-+

+

+

+

+

++

++

+

+

-

Coagulation


Stable Colloidal Particle

DestabilizedParticle

CoagulantAdded withMixing



Coagulation & Flocculation


Flocculation

Particle

Particle

Particle

Particle

Particle

Particle

Bridging


Overfeed & Restabilization


In-Line Activation

Batch Tank

Methods Of Preparation / Activation


Moment Of Initial Wetting

Agglomeration / Fragility

Rate Of Hydration

Charge Site Exposure

Preparation / Activation


Rate Of Hydration (The Science)

With good dispersion at Moment of Initial Wettinga 1 micron radii polymer particle can fully hydrate in 1 minute

swells ~ 6-7 times


Without good dispersionagglomerations are formed

10 micron agglomeration will fully hydratein ___ min(s)

Rate Of Hydration (Reality)


Without good dispersionagglomerations are formed

10 micron agglomeration will fully hydratein 100 min(s)

Time increases by the square of the increase in the radius (10 squared)

Rate Of Hydration (Attempt to Correct)


The “Art” of Aging

Aging is a Solution to a Problem – It is not a method or the goal of

polymer activation

Aging is always required of all improperly mixed polymer solutions

Aging is an attempt to gain total polymer activation

Too much aging is detrimental to a properly mixed polymer


Effective Polymer Preparation

The most important factor determining the proper activation of

polymer is proper application of energy.

The energy needs to be adjustable to suit the polymer selection and

process application.


Characteristics of Polymer Dissolution

time

Fragility

Agglomeration


Polymer Backbone – Carbon-Carbon Bonds


How Fragile is It?

One gram of free falling water will rupture 1 million carbon-carbon bonds.

Proper application of energy is critical


Uniform Energy


Uniform Energy

As the tank is made smaller the energy becomes uniform


Characteristics of Polymer Dissolution

time

Fragility

Agglomeration


Conventional Mixing

Mixing Zones

3000

1


Staged Energy

Zone 2

Zone 1

Zone 3

A uniform but decreasing energy dissipation can be created with various mixing zones.


ProMinent Mixing Chamber Energy Profile

time

Fragility

Agglomeration

Zone 1

Zone 3

Zone 2


TOO MUCH Damage The Chain Decreased Performance

Right Energy / Right Time

NOT ENOUGH Agglomerations

Waste Polymer

Decreased Performance

ENERGY


Good Mixing

= Better Control

= Optimization

= Chemical Savings

Mixing, Mixing, Mixing


Charge Site Exposure

--

-

-

-

-

-


Discharge Piping

Minimize Fluid Velocity

Eliminate High Shear Pumping Systems

Multiple Points Of Injection

Evaluate System Piping Downstream Of Polymer Injection

Determine Optimal Feed Concentrations

Other Factors Influencing Optimization


Survey your system needs for improvement

Evaluate costs for improvement vs. savings as result of the

improvement

Be aware of new technologies & strategies that will help you

be more efficient

Conclusions

Experts in Chem-Feed and Water Treatment Polymer Applications Understanding Polymer Activation.

Documents

sq yd0

sq ft33

sq in3

sq in48

freezecharge cationic

polymer structure

high molecular weight

neat formcharge cationic