How to determine when polyacrylamide has deteriorated? These tips will help you avoid pitfalls!

In industries such as water treatment, papermaking, and oilfields, polyacrylamide (PAM) serves as a commonly employed ‘valuable assistant’. However, it possesses a ‘shelf life’; once it becomes ineffective, it not only compromises performance but may also disrupt production and inflate costs. Today, we’ll share a few methods to swiftly determine whether polyacrylamide has deteriorated, helping you avoid pitfalls and prevent mishaps! 1. Inspect the exterior for any visible abnormalities When polyacrylamide is undissolved, it typically appears as a dry white powder or granules with good flowability. Should the powder be found severely caked due to moisture absorption, to the extent that it remains compacted even when squeezed by hand, it has likely deteriorated through moisture uptake. The dissolved solution also exhibits telltale signs: a properly dissolved solution appears as a uniform, transparent liquid. Should it become cloudy, exhibit layering with suspended particles floating in the upper layer and sediment settling in the lower layer, do not hesitate – this solution is most likely ineffective and will fail to perform its intended functions such as flocculation and thickening. II. Assessing the Results: Practice Makes Perfect The effectiveness of polyacrylamide is revealed upon dosing. Whether it performs adequately becomes evident when tested in actual systems: – Flocculation speed: Under normal conditions, floc formation and enlargement should be observable shortly after dosing. If flocculation slows markedly, with no floc development after prolonged waiting, caution is warranted. – Floc morphology: Ineffective polyacrylamide typically produces small, loose flocs resembling ‘a pile of loose sand,’ with slow settling rates that hinder rapid solid-liquid separation. – Water quality parameters: During treatment, monitor turbidity and COD levels. If water quality shows no significant improvement post-addition—with turbidity remaining high or COD exceeding standards—it strongly indicates the polyacrylamide has ceased functioning. In sludge dewatering scenarios, persistently high moisture content in the sludge cake similarly signals potential failure. 3. Check the time, don’t exceed the ‘shelf life’ Prepared solution: Dissolved polyacrylamide solutions have a relatively short shelf life and are generally recommended for use within 24 hours. Particularly in high-temperature environments (such as summer workshops or uncontrolled storage areas), polymer chains are prone to degradation, causing a significant decline in performance. Even solutions prepared recently may become ineffective. – Unopened products: Even unopened polyacrylamide possesses a shelf life! This is typically 1–2 years, though storage conditions are paramount. If stored in high-temperature, humid, or sun-exposed locations, deterioration may occur prematurely even before the expiry date. Under favourable storage conditions (cool, dry, and well-ventilated), the shelf life remains relatively stable. However, after the expiry date, use with caution: conduct small-scale trials first to assess suitability. 4. What to do if it fails? Don’t panic! Should polyacrylamide prove ineffective, refrain from continuing its use out of reluctance to discard it. Doing so may at best compromise production efficiency, and at worst lead to water quality exceeding standards or equipment malfunction. The correct procedure is as follows: 1. Discontinue use of the ineffective product: Immediately cease adding the ineffective polyacrylamide to prevent further deterioration. 2. Re-evaluate and conduct pilot testing: Switch to a qualified polyacrylamide product. Follow pilot testing procedures (adjusting concentration, dosage, and simulating actual operating conditions) to determine optimal usage parameters before formal implementation. Failed polyacrylamide can hinder production. Mastering these assessment methods enables timely identification and resolution, ensuring it remains consistently effective and supports production! Have you encountered polyacrylamide failure during use? How did you detect it? Share your pitfall-avoidance experiences in the comments section! The main products of flocculant manufacturer Xinhuan Water Treatment are: White polyaluminium chloride (food grade), drinking grade polyaluminium chloride, industrial grade polyaluminium chloride, anionic polyacrylamide, cationic polyacrylamide, nonionic polyacrylamide, petroleum recycling polyacrylamide, oil recovery polyacrylamide, polyacrylamide, polymer flocculant polymer flocculation coagulant, polymeric ferrous sulphate, polymerized iron and aluminium chloride, and other water treatment chemicals. Welcome customers to write to us to negotiate business! Tel/WhatsApp：86 19139972558 Email：Sunny@xhwtm.com Contact:Sunny