Rick Johnson

SNF / Polydyne
 Define Polymer – types, forms and properties
 Dosage Calculations
 Getting the Most Performance Out of Your
Polymer
 Sludge Parameters Influencing Conditioning
 Polymer Parameters Influencing Conditioning
 Questions and Answers
 Webster Dictionary defines polymer as “a
naturally occurring or synthetic compound
consisting of large molecules made up of a
linked series of repeated simple monomers”
 Industry definition – long-chained, high
molecular weight, synthetic, water soluble,
organic flocculant carrying a cationic, anionic,
or non-ionic charge.
Coagulant Flocculant

 Product that adds  Product that links or

charge causing particle
neutralization enmeshes suspended
 van der Waals forces solids into larger
 Destabilization particles
 Bridging
Water Treatment
Waste Water Treatment
 COAGULATION

Stable colloid

+ + + +
+ + +
+ + + +
+
Unstable colloid + +
+
+
+ + +
+
+ + + +

+ + +
+ +
Microfloc formation + + +
+
+ +
+
+ + +
+ +
+ + +
 FLOCCULATION
+ + + +
+ +
+
Unstable colloid +
+
+
+ +
+ +
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ +
Polymer bridges

+
+ + + +
+ + + + +

Floc formation + +
+
+ +
+ +
+ + +
+
 To help remove and concentrate solids

 Belt Presses and Centrifuges could not

perform well without them
 Cationic – positively charged, majority
of WW applications
 Non-ionic – no charge, potable
clarification and settling
 Anionic – negatively charged, potable
clarification and dewatering of metal
sludges
 Emulsion Dry or Powder

 Liquid Form  ~ 100% Active

 40% to 50% Active  Cationic, Non-Ionic,
 Cationic, Non-Ionic, Anionic
Anionic  Shelf life – unlimited
 Shelf life > 6 months  Granular, Flake,
Microbead
 Clear to Milky White
 Oil Based
 Mannich Solution

 Liquid Form  Liquid Form

 3% to 7% Active  3% to 7% Active
 Cationic  Cationic, Anionic
 Shelf Life ~ 3 Months  Shelf Life > 3 Months
 pH ~ 2.5 – 4.5
 pH ~ 10 - 11
 “Environmentally
Friendly”
 Charge (cationic or anionic)
 Charge Density
 Molecular weight (chain length)
 Molecule type
 Chain shape
Pounds of polymer per dry ton of solids
processed, or #/DT, is the industry
standard for monitoring polymer
effectiveness.
To find sludge loading rate (lbs/hour dry solids):

 gpm sludge x (% sludge/100) x 8.34 x 60 = lbs/hour dry solids

To find polymer usage (lbs poly/ton dry solids):

 2000 x gpm poly x 8.34 x 60 x (poly conc. %/100) = lbs /ton

lbs/hour dry solids
 Pounds per Ton =
2000 x gpm poly x (poly conc.%/100)
gpm sludge x (% sludge/100)
 Proper Dispersion or Activation
 Proper Dilution Concentration
 Optimal Mixing Energy
 Optimal Mixing Location
 Dispersion and Activation – proper
use of make-up equipment
 Proper dilution
 Mannich / Solution ~ 5 to 10%
 Emulsion ~ 0.25 to 1.0%
 Dry or Powder ~ 0.2 to 0.4%
 Flash mix
◦ Gallons per minute of polymer added
divided by gallons per minute of
water added
 Draw down cylinder
 Pump curve
◦ Equal polymer dilution
maximum pump capacity X stroke X speed
4.5gph X 0.5 speed X 0.5 stroke=1.125 gph
1.125 gph / 60 min = 0.01875 gpm polymer

0.01875gpm polymer / 7.5 gpm water

=0.0025 or 0.25% solution
 Batch tank
◦ Pounds of polymer added to tank divided
by the pounds of water within the tank
◦ Equal polymer dilution
 12 pounds polymer
= 0.0024
600 gallons water X 8.34 lbs/gal

0.0024 x 100% = 0.24% solution strength

 Mixing Energy ~ sludge/polymer addition
point
 Injection Location ~ retention prior to
application
 Optimize Polymer Dosage
◦ Too little can cost more!
 Too little polymer can produce:
 Poorer captures, recycling solids (high
TSS)
 Wetter cakes (hauling/drying costs)
 Man hours (clean ups/hauling)
 Optimize Polymer Dosage
◦ More Polymer is not necessarily better
 Too much polymer can produce:
 Poorer captures (foaming centrate)
 Wetter cakes
 Wastes money
 Organic Matter Content (%)
◦ The organic matter content is comparable to
the Volatile Solids content (VS)
◦ The higher the VS, the more difficult the
dewatering
 Low cake dryness,
 Low mechanical properties
 High polymer usage
 Solution – recommended to add a
thickening step in order to achieve better
dewatering
 Colloidal Nature of the Sludge
◦ The higher the colloidal nature, the more difficult
it is to dewater
◦ Factors affecting the colloidal nature of sludge
 Origin of the sludge
Primary–Digested-Fresh Mixed-Digested Mixed-Biological
Low colloidal nature >>>>>>>>>>>>High colloidal nature
 Colloidal Nature of the Sludge
◦ The higher the colloidal nature, the more difficult
it is to dewater
◦ Factors affecting the colloidal nature of sludge
 Origin of the sludge
 Freshness of the sludge, colloidal nature
increases with fermentation (septic)
 Origin of the wastewater: dairy or brewery
increase colloidal nature
 Sludge return: poorly controlled return of
sludge increases colloidal nature
 Concentration (Total Solids)
◦ “Incorporation of the polymer” – the
higher the concentration of sludge, the
harder it is to mix in a viscous solution of
polymer
 Solution – post dilution, injecting the
polymer upstream, multiple injection
points, use of in-line mixer
 Concentration (Total Solids)
◦ “Incorporation of the polymer” – the
higher the concentration of sludge, the
harder it is to mix in a viscous solution of
polymer
◦ Consumption of the polymer – the higher
the concentration of the sludge, the lower
the consumption of the polymer
 True, only if incorporation is correctly
done
 The Type of Charge
◦ Anionic polymer to catch mineral particles
◦ Cationic polymer to catch organic particles
 The Type of Charge
 The Charge Density
◦ Represents the quantity of + or – charge necessary
to obtain the best floc formation at the lowest dose
◦ Depends on the type of sludge to treat
◦ Generally, the higher the VS the higher the cationic
charge needed
 The Type of Charge
 The Charge Density
 The Molecular Weight (MW)
◦ Length of the polymer chain, generally depends on
the type of equipment used for dewatering
 Centrifuge – high to very high MW due to high shear
 Belt Press – low to medium MW to obtain good
drainage
 The Type of Charge
 The Charge Density
 The Molecular Weight (MW)
 The Molecular Structure
◦ Linear – low dosage and good performance
◦ Branched – medium dosage w/ excellent drainage
◦ Cross-linked – high dosage w/exceptional drainage
performance and shear resistance
 Molecular Structure

• Linear

• Branched

• Crosslinked
 The Type of Charge
 The Charge Density
 The Molecular Weight (MW)
 The Molecular Structure
 The Type of Monomer
◦ ADAM-MeCl
◦ APTAC
 Drums – homogenization by gentle agitation
for short periods, if necessary.
 Totes – homogenization by gentle agitation
for short periods, if necessary. Tote bin
mixer.
 Bulk Storage Tank – best method is a large
blade rotating at low speeds, 20 rpm. 30
minutes, twice a week.
 Skin or crust on surface – do not mix!