Polymers and Coagulants

The efficiency of solid/liquid separation may be greatly improved by the application of synthetic polymeric flocculants. This improvement is achieved by bringing dispersed particles together increasing the effective particle size of the solid phase. The stability of the suspension is broken and the liquid phase is released.

The term flocculation is often confused with coagulation, although the two refer to quite different processes. Coagulation is basically electrostatic in that it is brought about by a reduction in the repulsive potential of particles, whereas flocculation is brought about be the action of high molecular weight materials such as starch or polyelectrolytes, where the material physically forms a bridge between two or more particles aiding settlement.

Sepco is our trade name for polymer products used in treatment of potable water, wastewater and sludge. Sepco flocculants are synthetic polymers based on repeating units of acrylamide and its derivatives, which may contain either cationic or anionic charges and are available in a wide range of molecular weights and ionic charge.

Typical areas of application

• Increase the separation speed
• Remove a large amount of suspended substances to produce purer water
• Thicken the sludge
• Increase the dry solids content in sludge on draining

A Material Safety Data Sheet or Product Specification sheet will be posted upon request.