Water treatment
Flocculants — Polyacrylamide Polymers for Clarification & Sludge Dewatering
FOB Black Sea / MENA · CFR/CIF worldwide on request
Indicative price
USD 656–800 / MT
Indicative range, firm quote on request
Key parameters
Full product details
Product overview
Flocculants are high-molecular-weight polyacrylamide (PAM) polymers that bridge fine suspended particles into settleable flocs after primary coagulation. In municipal wastewater treatment, anionic PAM added downstream of ferric or aluminium coagulant improves secondary-clarifier underflow density and cuts polymer demand on belt-filter presses. In industrial circuits — pulp and paper whitewater, textile dye-house effluent, food-processing plants and mining tailings thickeners — the correct charge density and molecular-weight band determine whether the polymer builds shear-resistant flocs or collapses under mixer agitation.
Our export grade covers anionic, cationic and non-ionic powder formulations with molecular weight from 8 to 18 million g/mol and solid content at 88% minimum. Residual acrylamide monomer is capped at 500 ppm, meeting common potable-water and food-contact polymer limits when applied at typical dosing rates of 0.5–5 mg/L active polymer. Powder dissolves in freshwater within 60 minutes at 0.1% concentration using low-shear mixing — the dissolution profile that automated polymer make-down skids at WWTPs and mining concentrators expect.
Typical buyers include municipal water authorities tendering annual polymer supply for activated-sludge plants, industrial effluent contractors operating DAF and clarifier trains on EPC contracts, mining companies thickening tailings ahead of dry-stack deposition, and regional chemical distributors building inventory for Gulf and North African water-treatment segments. HS code 3906.90. MOQ from 20 MT on FOB, CFR or CIF terms.
Full specification
| Active polymer | Polyacrylamide (PAM), partially hydrolysed or quaternised |
| Charge type | Anionic (20–40% hydrolysis), cationic (10–50% quaternisation) or non-ionic |
| Molecular weight | 8–18 million g/mol (Ubbelohde viscometer) |
| Solid content | 88% min |
| Residual acrylamide monomer | 500 ppm max |
| Dissolution time | 60 min max at 0.1% in freshwater, 20°C |
| pH (0.1% solution) | 6.0–8.5 (anionic); 4.0–7.0 (cationic) |
| Bulk density (loose powder) | 0.75–0.85 t/m³ |
| Appearance | White to off-white granular powder |
| HS code | 3906.90 |
Loading ports & logistics
Polyacrylamide powder is hygroscopic and must stay dry from bagging line to receiver storage. We coordinate three principal delivery modes depending on parcel size and destination climate.
25 kg PE-lined bags on pallets load into 20-foot containers for parcels of 20–40 MT — the standard route for municipal WWTP buyers and regional distributors without bulk-bag handling equipment. Each pallet is stretch-wrapped and desiccant-lined; container stuffing at origin avoids open-air exposure during humid loading windows at Black Sea and MENA ports.
750–1,000 kg moisture-barrier FIBC bulk bags suit mining tailings operators and large industrial plants dosing polymer from silo-fed make-down systems. Bags load on flat-rack or into 40-foot containers; net weight per unit typically 750–1,000 kg depending on bulk density of the grade selected.
Emulsion grades (30–50% active polymer) are available on request in 200 L polyethylene drums or ISO tank containers for receivers with dedicated emulsion-dilution skids. CFR and CIF quotations add ocean or container freight and marine insurance to the FOB polymer price. Typical lead time 10–22 days from contract execution to loading window.
Packaging & documentation
Cargo ships as 25 kg PE-lined multi-wall bags on pallets, 750–1,000 kg laminated FIBC bulk bags, or 200 L drums for emulsion grades — presentation quoted separately from the FOB flocculant price. Each lot is accompanied by a mill certificate of analysis showing molecular weight, charge type, solid content, residual monomer and dissolution time, plus a safety data sheet (SDS) per GHS, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin.
Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas or equivalent) at loading can be arranged on buyer request. For potable-water applications, a batch-specific residual monomer certificate and NSF/ANSI 60 or equivalent conformity declaration can be supplied where the producing mill holds current registration. Storage instructions recommending temperature below 35°C and relative humidity under 70% are included in the shipping documentation package.
FAQ
When should buyers choose anionic versus cationic flocculants?
Anionic polyacrylamide suits negatively charged suspended solids in municipal activated-sludge effluent, mining tailings and paper-mill whitewater where alum or ferric coagulant has already neutralised particle charge. Cationic PAM is preferred for organic sludge dewatering on belt presses and centrifuges, and for positively charged colloids in food-processing and dairy wastewater. Non-ionic grades bridge both regimes when feedwater chemistry varies seasonally. Specify charge density and molecular weight on the purchase order so the mill selects the correct polymer family.
How are polyacrylamide flocculants shipped on export routes?
Dry PAM powder moves in 25 kg PE-lined bags palletised into 20-foot containers (approximately 20 MT net per unit) or in 750–1,000 kg moisture-barrier FIBC bulk bags for larger parcels. Emulsion grades load in 200 L drums or ISO tanks where the receiver has dedicated polymer make-down equipment. Store below 35°C and keep relative humidity under 70% during transit — hygroscopic powder can cake if bags are punctured. IMDG documentation is not required for solid non-hazardous polymer grades; emulsion consignments carry Class 9 where applicable.
What drives the indicative flocculant price per tonne?
FOB quotations reflect acrylamide monomer cost, charge density and molecular-weight band, powder versus emulsion presentation, and bagging or drum filling at Black Sea and MENA polymer plants. Higher-molecular-weight anionic grades for mining tailings and lower-charge cationic powders for sludge dewatering sit at opposite ends of the USD 656–800/MT band. Firm pricing is fixed at contract signing after charge type and viscosity target are confirmed.
Related products
- Caustic Soda — alkalinity adjustment upstream of coagulation and flocculation stages
- Ferrous Sulphate — iron coagulant paired with anionic PAM in phosphorus removal circuits
- Silica Sand — filter media for rapid-gravity beds downstream of clarified water