Is Coal Washing Wastewater Hard to Treat? Polyacrylamide (PAM) Helps Coal Sludge Settle and Increases Recovery!

Are coal washing plants facing these problems?

• Dirty water
• Slow coal sludge settling
• Low water reuse rate This makes treatment costs higher. It also increases pressure on the environment. How can we speed up coal sludge settling? How can we increase coal powder recovery? How can we reduce water treatment costs? These are common questions in coal washing plants.

 

Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a strong flocculant. It helps with coal sludge settling, flotation, and dewatering. When PAM is used the right way, it improves treatment efficiency. It also lowers chemical use. This helps plants save energy, reduce costs, and meet discharge standards. In this article, we will explain how PAM works in coal washing wastewater treatment. We will also discuss how to use it properly.

 

Why is Coal Washing Wastewater Hard to Treat?

Coal washing removes impurities from coal. But wastewater from coal washing is difficult to treat because:

• High turbidity: Coal slurry has many small particles. These particles settle slowly. This affects water quality.
• Negative charges on particles: The solid particles have negative charges. They push each other away. This makes it hard for them to settle naturally.
• Colloidal properties: Coal slurry is not just a suspension. It has colloidal properties. This makes treatment harder.

If not treated well, coal slurry wastewater can harm water reuse. It also increases environmental pressure and raises costs.

 

What Does PAM Do in Coal Washing Wastewater Treatment?

1. What is PAM? Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a polymer. It is made from acrylamide. PAM helps with flocculation, precipitation, and solid-liquid separation.

In coal washing plants, PAM helps with:

• Coal sludge settling
• Flotation
• Dewatering

PAM:

• Helps solid particles meet air bubbles. This increases coal flotation and recovery.
• Makes coal sludge settle quickly. This improves water treatment and makes it easier to reuse water.
• Improves coal slurry dewatering. This reduces sludge treatment costs.

2. Different Types of PAM in Coal Washing Wastewater Treatment

There are three types of PAM used in coal washing wastewater treatment:

• Anionic PAM (APAM): Used for coal sludge settling and filtration.
• Cationic PAM (CPAM): Used for coal slurry dewatering.
• Non-ionic PAM (NPAM): Used for special water qualities.

 

Each type is suited for different needs:

• Anionic PAM (APAM): Works well for separating coal slurry. It increases recovery and speeds up sludge settling.
• Cationic PAM (CPAM): Helps form stable sludge cakes in dewatering. It improves the solid content of the coal slurry, making it easier to dewater.
• Non-ionic PAM (NPAM): Works well in low-salinity water. It improves filtration and dewatering.

Using the right PAM helps improve efficiency and reduce costs!

 

Tips for Using PAM in Coal Washing Wastewater Treatment

1. Correct Mixing and Dissolving Avoid mixing PAM too quickly. If you mix too fast, the molecular chains can break. This reduces PAM’s effectiveness.

The right way is:

• Stir at 50-250 rpm to avoid breaking the chains.
• Dissolve PAM in 1-2 hours. Fast-dissolving PAM takes 0.5-1 hour.
• Don’t use water hotter than 40°C. High temperatures can affect PAM’s performance.

2. Prevent PAM from Clumping Don’t add dry PAM powder directly to water. It will clump. This will make it hard to dissolve.

The right way is:

• For small tests, wet PAM with methanol or ethanol to help it dissolve.
• For larger use, make a solution first. Then, add it in the right amount.

3. Control the Amount of PAM Used The amount of PAM affects the coal sludge settling. Too much or too little can cause problems.

• Too little PAM: Coal sludge will settle slowly. This can affect water quality.
• Too much PAM: Settling speeds up, but the sludge is harder to dewater.

The best bottom slurry concentration is 500g/L.

Too much PAM can cause the concentration to rise above 700g/L. This makes dewatering harder and increases costs.

Using the right amount of PAM improves flocculation and saves money!

 

Environmental and Economic Benefits of PAM

1. Environmental Benefits PAM helps reduce pollution.

• It increases coal sludge settling and reduces suspended solids.
• It improves wastewater reuse, reducing the need for clean water.
• It lowers the risk of exceeding pollution limits, helping meet environmental standards.

2. Economic Benefits PAM reduces costs.

• It reduces chemical use, lowering treatment costs.
• It increases coal powder recovery, reducing coal loss.
• It lowers sludge dewatering costs, saving on transportation and treatment.

 

Conclusion: Use PAM the Right Way for Efficient Coal Washing Wastewater Treatment!

As environmental rules get stricter, coal washing wastewater treatment becomes more important. Coal washing plants need to:

• Speed up coal sludge settling.
• Optimize water reuse.
• Lower water treatment costs.

Polyacrylamide (PAM) is an effective treatment agent. It helps with coal sludge settling, coal powder recovery, and dewatering. When used properly, PAM makes water treatment easier and cheaper. It helps plants go green and reduce costs.

🚀 Need a solution for your coal washing wastewater treatment? Contact us for expert help! 📩