Application of Cationic Polyacrylamide ZETAG 8108 DL

ZETAG  8108 DL is a high-performance cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) emulsion flocculant manufactured by Solenis. It is characterized by very high molecular weight and medium-to-high cationic charge density, which makes it especially effective for solid–liquid separation, sludge dewatering, and wastewater clarification. The “DL” form indicates that it is supplied as a ready-to-use emulsion, allowing for rapid dissolution, easy dosing, and fast flocculation response in continuous treatment systems.

ZETAG 8108 DL works primarily through charge neutralization and polymer bridging. Most suspended solids, organic matter, and biological sludge particles carry negative surface charges. ZETAG 8108 DL neutralizes these charges and bridges particles into large, dense, and shear-resistant flocs that separate quickly by gravity settling, flotation, or mechanical dewatering. Because of this strong and reliable flocculation mechanism, the product is widely used in municipal wastewater treatment, industrial effluent treatment, sludge dewatering, papermaking, mining, food processing, and oilfield water treatment.

1. Municipal Wastewater Treatment

One of the most important application areas of ZETAG 8108 DL is municipal sewage and wastewater treatment. Urban wastewater contains large amounts of suspended solids, organic colloids, fats, oils, grease, and microorganisms that cannot be efficiently removed by sedimentation alone.

In primary clarification, ZETAG 8108 DL is used to enhance the aggregation of fine suspended particles into large and fast-settling flocs. This significantly reduces total suspended solids (TSS) and part of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) before biological treatment, which helps stabilize downstream processes.

In secondary clarification, especially in activated sludge systems, ZETAG 8108 DL improves sludge settleability, reduces sludge bulking and floating, and produces clearer treated effluent. It is particularly effective in systems experiencing poor settling due to filamentous bacteria or weak biological flocs.

In sludge thickening and dewatering, ZETAG 8108 DL shows excellent performance. It is widely used on belt filter presses, centrifuges, screw presses, rotary drum thickeners, and plate-and-frame filter presses. Key performance benefits include:

• Higher sludge cake dry solids content

• Lower filtrate turbidity

• Reduced polymer consumption per ton of dry solids

• Lower sludge transportation and disposal costs

• Improved equipment throughput and stability

2. Industrial Wastewater Treatment

ZETAG 8108 DL is extensively used in industrial wastewater treatment, where effluents often contain high concentrations of organic matter, fine suspended solids, oils, greases, dyes, pigments, and heavy metals. Typical industries include:

• Food and beverage processing

• Meat, poultry, and seafood processing

• Textile and dyeing plants

• Chemical manufacturing

• Pharmaceutical plants

• Leather and tannery operations

• Electroplating and metal finishing

• Pulp and paper mills

In these industries, ZETAG 8108 DL is used as a primary flocculant or coagulant aid to remove suspended solids and organic contaminants. It is frequently applied in dissolved air flotation (DAF) systems, where it works together with inorganic coagulants such as PAC or ferric chloride. The coagulant destabilizes fine particles, while ZETAG 8108 DL builds large, buoyant flocs that float rapidly for efficient removal. This leads to:

• Effective removal of oils, fats, and grease

• Strong reduction in COD, BOD, and color

• Improved stability of biological treatment systems

• Consistent compliance with discharge standards

3. Sludge Thickening and Mechanical Dewatering

Sludge management is one of the core application fields of ZETAG 8108 DL. Biological and chemically treated sludges contain large quantities of bound water that are difficult to remove without proper polymer conditioning.

ZETAG 8108 DL is applied to:

• Waste activated sludge

• Primary sludge

• Chemically precipitated sludge

• Mixed municipal–industrial sludge

Its long polymer chains and strong cationic charge create large, porous, and shear-resistant flocs that release water efficiently under mechanical force. Plants using ZETAG 8108 DL typically achieve:

• Increased sludge cake dryness

• Lower polymer dosage compared with lower-grade CPAMs

• Reduced centrifuge energy consumption

• Lower equipment wear due to improved floc structure

• Improved dewatering reliability under fluctuating sludge conditions

4. Papermaking and Pulp Industry

In the paper and pulp industry, ZETAG 8108 DL is widely used as a retention aid, drainage aid, and sludge dewatering polymer. Modern paper machines operate at high speed and require precise control of fiber, fines, and filler retention.

ZETAG 8108 DL provides:

• Improved fiber and filler retention

• Faster drainage on the wire section

• Reduced white water solids load

• Better paper formation and strength

• Increased machine speed and productivity

It is applied in the production of packaging paper, corrugated board, tissue paper, and specialty industrial paper. In addition, papermaking wastewater and biological sludge are effectively treated using ZETAG 8108 DL for clarification and dewatering.

5. Mining and Mineral Processing

Although anionic flocculants dominate in mineral processing, ZETAG 8108 DL plays an important role in processing streams rich in organic matter or fine carbonaceous solids, such as:

• Coal preparation plants

• Mine water clarification

• Concentrate dewatering with organic binders

It helps speed up sedimentation, improve overflow clarity, and enhance water reuse efficiency in mining operations.

6. Oilfield and Petroleum Industry

In the oil and gas industry, ZETAG 8108 DL is widely applied in:

• Produced water treatment

• Refinery wastewater clarification

• Oily sludge dewatering

Oilfield wastewater often contains stable oil emulsions, polymers, and fine suspended solids. ZETAG 8108 DL effectively aggregates these components into separable flocs, improving oil–water separation efficiency and supporting water reinjection, recycling, and discharge compliance.

7. Key Advantages of ZETAG 8108 DL

ZETAG 8108 DL offers several important performance advantages:

• Very fast dissolution and activation due to emulsion form

• High flocculation efficiency at low dosage

• Large, dense, and shear-resistant flocs

• Excellent performance in biological and organic-rich sludge

• Wide adaptability to different water qualities

• Strong synergy with PAC, alum, and ferric salts

• Stable performance under fluctuating operating conditions

Conclusion

Cationic Polyacrylamide ZETAG® 8108 DL is a high-efficiency flocculant specifically designed for sludge dewatering, solid–liquid separation, and wastewater clarification in demanding municipal and industrial applications. Its primary uses include municipal wastewater treatment, industrial effluent clarification, sludge thickening and dewatering, papermaking, food and beverage processing, oilfield produced water treatment, and refinery wastewater purification. Through strong charge neutralization and polymer bridging effects, ZETAG 8108 DL significantly improves settling speed, dewatering efficiency, water clarity, and overall process stability. Its high performance, broad adaptability, and cost efficiency make it one of the most reliable cationic flocculants used in modern environmental and industrial treatment systems.