Can PAM be used in seawater desalination?
Application Scenarios
PAM is primarily used as a flocculant in the pretreatment stage of desalination, removing suspended solids, colloids, and organic contaminants from raw water to improve water quality and reduce the burden on subsequent treatment processes (such as reverse osmosis membranes).
Product Types
Based on their ionic properties, PAMs are categorized into three types: anionic, cationic, and nonionic. Nonionic PAM (NPAM) has proven effective in desalination due to its wide applicability and pH sensitivity. For example, a desalination plant in Zhoushan successfully extended its membrane fouling cycle by three times by using nonionic PAM.
Precautions
Dosage Control: Excessive use may make floc separation difficult or affect subsequent process performance. Experimental optimization of the dosage is necessary.
PH Adjustment: The pH value must be adjusted based on the PAM type. For example, aluminum salt flocculants work best at low pH.
Compatibility: Interactions with other water treatment chemicals (such as scale inhibitors) must be considered.
