Differences Between Polyacrylamide Powder and Granules and Its Dissolution Method

In water treatment and industrial applications, polyacrylamide (PAM) is widely used as an efficient flocculant. Polyacrylamide mainly comes in two forms: granular and powder. Understanding the differences between them is very important for selecting the appropriate product. This article will explore the main differences between polyacrylamide powder and granules, and provide the dissolution methods for polyacrylamide powder.

Differences Between Polyacrylamide Powder and Granules

Appearance and Form

Polyacrylamide powder and granules have obvious differences in appearance. Granular polyacrylamide appears as white granules, while polyacrylamide powder is a fine white powder. Granular polyacrylamide looks rougher, whereas the powder form appears finer. This form difference has a certain impact on the dissolution speed and effect in practical use.

Mesh Size and Dissolution Speed

The mesh size of granular polyacrylamide is usually between 20-80 mesh, while that of polyacrylamide powder is about 100 mesh. The larger the mesh, the faster the dissolution of polyacrylamide. Since the mesh of powdered polyacrylamide is finer, its dissolution speed is generally faster than that of granular polyacrylamide. However, this also means that during the dissolution process, the powder is more prone to clumping and special attention is needed to the dissolution conditions.

Production Process

The production process of polyacrylamide includes cutting, granulating, drying, and pulverizing. Granular polyacrylamide is the final product obtained after processing, while powdered polyacrylamide requires additional pulverizing treatment based on the granules. Despite powdered polyacrylamide's faster dissolution speed, it is more prone to clumping during use, hence water temperature and stirring speed need to be controlled during dissolution to avoid clumping issues.

Dissolution Methods for Polyacrylamide Powder

Water Dissolution

Polyacrylamide powder is most commonly dissolved in water. This method is widely used in water treatment, soil remediation, and oil extraction fields. The steps are as follows:

1. Prepare the necessary amount of polyacrylamide powder and water.

2. Add a suitable amount of water to the container.

3. Slowly add the polyacrylamide powder while stirring to promote dissolution.

4. Continue stirring until the polyacrylamide powder is completely dissolved.

Organic Solvent Dissolution

Apart from water, polyacrylamide powder can also be dissolved in some organic solvents. This method is suitable for specific experiments and applications. Common organic solvents include ethanol, methanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide. The dissolution steps are as follows:

1. Prepare the necessary amount of polyacrylamide powder and organic solvent.

2. Add a suitable amount of organic solvent to the container.

3. Slowly add the polyacrylamide powder while stirring to promote dissolution.

Matters Needing Attention

When dissolving polyacrylamide powder, the following points need attention:

• Stirring Speed and Time

Maintain an appropriate stirring speed and time to ensure polyacrylamide powder is fully dissolved.

• Temperature Control

Avoid using excessively high temperatures to prevent polyacrylamide from decomposing or losing its solubility.

• Concentration Adjustment

Adjust the concentration of the dissolution as needed, which can be modified by adding chemical reagents to change the properties of polyacrylamide.