Polyacrylamide (PAM)
Polyacrylamide (abbreviated PAM or PAAM), with the formula -[CH2CH]nCONH2-, is a polymer formed from the polymerization of acrylamide monomers. As a lubricant, suspension agent, clay stabilizer, oil displacement agent, water loss reducer and thickening agent, polyacrylamide has been widely used in drilling, acidification, fracturing, water plugging, cementing, secondary and tertiary oil recovery, and is a very important oilfield chemical.
Polyacrylamides are classified as non-ionic (NPAM), cationic (CPAM), anionic (APAM) and Amphionic (Amphionic PAM). The anionic polyacrylamide is often used as a soil amendment for cultivated land and as a site erosion control agent. Ionic substances such as salt cause the polyacrylamide to release its absorbent substance.
The polyacrylamide is water -solution high polymer with good flocculanting activity can reduce the friction resistanca between liquid.
1.Flocculation: PAM can make the suspended material through electrical neutralization, play the role of flocculation.
2.Adhesiveness: The impurities can be bonded together to precipitate to the bottom.
3.Thickening Agent: In neutralizing acidic conditions have thickening effect, if the PH value is more than 10 PAM easy hydrolysis.
Anion Polyacrylamide (APAM) is one of the most widely used water-soluble polymers. Anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) include: ultra high molecular weight(over 25 million), high molecular weight(up to 20 million), medium molecular weight(about 16 million), Solid content over 89% .
Nonionic Polyacrylamide (NPAM) include: medium molecular weight(over 15 million), low molecular weight(up to 8 million), Solid content over 89%.
Cation Polyacrylamide (CPAM) is a type of polyacrylamide that has a positively charged functional group, such as amino or quaternary ammonium, which makes it highly effective in binding with negatively charged particles, such as clay, silt, and organic matter in water.
Amphoteric polyacrylamide(ACPAM) , due to its molecular inclusion of cationic and anionic groups, exhibits superior performance in addition to the characteristics of general cationic flocculants. This type of flocculant can be used within a wide range of pH values, with higher filtration capacity and lower cake moisture content. It can also be used for strong acid leaching of ores or for recovering valuable metals from acidic catalysts containing metals.
| Product Name | Molecular Weight |
|
Solid content | Residual monomer% | Appearance | ||||
|
800-2000Million | 10-50% | ≥90% |
|
White Powder | ||||
| CPAM | 800-1200Million | 20-55% |
|
0.05 | White Powder | ||||
| NPAM |
|
|
|
0.05 | White Powder |
Flocculation Experiment ：
According to the properties of suspended matter, concentration and flocculation performance of polyacrylamide, precipitation can be divided into: natural precipitation, flocculation precipitation, regional precipitation. The concentration of suspended particles in regional precipitation is higher (more than 5000mg/L), and the settlement of particles is affected by other surrounding particles, and the relative positions of particles remain unchanged, forming a whole common sinking, and there is a clear mud-water interface between them and the clarified water. Regional sedimentation occurred in both secondary sedimentation tank and sludge thickening tank.
How Polyacrylamide work in Oil Field?
Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a synthetic water-soluble polymer that has a wide range of applications in the oil and gas industry. In the oil field, PAM is used as a drilling fluid additive, a viscosity modifier, a friction reducer, and a flocculant.
Drilling fluid additive: PAM is added to drilling fluids to increase the viscosity and stability of the drilling fluid. It helps to prevent the loss of drilling fluid into porous formations and also helps to carry the cuttings to the surface.
Viscosity modifier: PAM can modify the viscosity of oil and water-based fluids. When added to an oil-based fluid, it can increase the viscosity and provide better lubricity. When added to a water-based fluid, it can decrease the viscosity and improve the fluid's flow properties.
Friction reducer: PAM can reduce the friction between the drilling fluid and the borehole wall. This helps to minimize the pressure required to circulate the fluid, which can lead to a reduction in the wear and tear on drilling equipment.
Flocculant: PAM is also used as a flocculant in the oil field. It helps to separate solids from liquids and can be used to remove suspended solids from produced water. This can help to reduce the environmental impact of oil production and make the produced water suitable for reuse.
In summary, PAM has many uses in the oil field and can help to improve the efficiency and environmental sustainability of oil and gas production.
Application in papermaking process
Paper industry can be use for paper dry strength agent, retention agent, filter aid,improving paper quality and paper production capacity.
APAM is also used in the papermaking process .The main application of polyacrylamide in the paper industry has two aspects: one is to improve the retention rate of additives, pigments, etc., in order to reduce the loss of raw materials and environmental pollution; The second is to improve the strength of the paper.
Due to the different purpose of PAM used in the paper industry, the requirements for the relative molecular weight and carboxyl group content (degree of hydrolysis) of the polymer are also different. So the APAM have a widely use in papermaking process.
