Application of PRAESTOL 25100

PRAESTOL 25100 is a high-molecular-weight anionic polyacrylamide flocculant developed for demanding solid–liquid separation processes in municipal, industrial, and mineral processing industries. Due to its long polymer chains and strong anionic character, PRAESTOL 25100 provides excellent particle-bridging capability, rapid floc formation, and reliable settling performance. It is widely used in clarification, thickening, and dewatering applications where efficient separation, clear overflow, and stable operation are critical.

Municipal Wastewater Treatment

One of the most important applications of PRAESTOL 25100 is in municipal wastewater treatment plants. In primary and secondary clarification systems, PRAESTOL 25100 is commonly dosed after inorganic coagulants such as aluminum sulfate, ferric chloride, or polyaluminum chloride. After the coagulant neutralizes particle charges, PRAESTOL 25100 acts as a flocculant, forming large and dense flocs through polymer bridging.

In municipal treatment, PRAESTOL 25100 significantly improves suspended solids removal, reduces effluent turbidity, and enhances clarifier throughput. The use of PRAESTOL 25100 allows plants to handle higher hydraulic loads while maintaining stable effluent quality. Its consistent performance under varying influent conditions makes PRAESTOL 25100 suitable for both conventional activated sludge systems and advanced biological treatment processes.

Industrial Wastewater Treatment

PRAESTOL 25100 is widely applied in industrial wastewater treatment across many sectors, including chemical manufacturing, petrochemical refining, steel production, power generation, food and beverage processing, and pulp and paper industries. Industrial wastewaters often contain fine colloidal solids, inorganic particles, and organic matter that are difficult to remove using sedimentation alone.

PRAESTOL 25100 effectively aggregates these fine particles into settleable flocs, improving clarification efficiency and reducing suspended solids in treated effluent. In complex industrial streams with fluctuating flow rates and solids loading, PRAESTOL 25100 provides stable and predictable performance, helping facilities comply with strict discharge regulations and reduce overall treatment costs.

Sludge Thickening Applications

Another major application of PRAESTOL 25100 is sludge thickening. In gravity thickeners and dissolved air flotation systems, PRAESTOL 25100 increases sludge solids concentration by promoting rapid flocculation and improved compaction. The strong flocs formed by PRAESTOL 25100 release free water efficiently, allowing higher thickened sludge solids and reduced downstream processing volume.

In municipal sludge systems, PRAESTOL 25100 is suitable for primary sludge, waste activated sludge, and mixed sludge. In industrial sludge applications, PRAESTOL 25100 improves thickening performance for sludges containing inorganic solids, fibers, or mineral particles.

Mechanical Sludge Dewatering

PRAESTOL 25100 is extensively used in mechanical sludge dewatering processes, including belt filter presses, centrifuges, screw presses, and chamber filter presses. When properly prepared and dosed, PRAESTOL 25100 conditions sludge by forming robust, shear-resistant flocs that withstand mechanical stress during dewatering.

The use of PRAESTOL 25100 increases cake solids content, reduces filtrate turbidity, and lowers polymer consumption compared to lower-molecular-weight products. Improved dewatering efficiency results in reduced sludge volume, lower transportation costs, and easier disposal or further treatment. PRAESTOL 25100 is particularly effective in high-shear centrifuge applications where floc stability is essential.

Mining and Mineral Processing

In mining and mineral processing operations, PRAESTOL 25100 plays a critical role in tailings thickening, slurry clarification, and process water recovery. Fine mineral particles such as clay, silica, and metal oxides often remain suspended for long periods due to their small size and surface charge characteristics.

PRAESTOL 25100 accelerates settling by bridging these particles into large aggregates, improving underflow density and producing clear overflow water. In tailings thickeners, PRAESTOL 25100 supports higher solids loading and more stable thickener operation. The recovered process water can be reused in the plant, reducing freshwater demand and improving overall water efficiency.

Alumina Refining and Red Mud Treatment

A key industrial application of PRAESTOL 25100 is in alumina refining, particularly in red mud settling and washing circuits of the Bayer process. During bauxite digestion, fine red mud particles must be rapidly separated from sodium aluminate liquor to ensure efficient recovery of alumina.

PRAESTOL 25100 enhances red mud flocculation, leading to faster settling rates, improved underflow density, and clearer overflow liquor. This improves washing efficiency, reduces caustic soda losses, and stabilizes thickener operation. In high-solids red mud disposal systems, PRAESTOL 25100 contributes to improved rheology and more efficient pumping or stacking of residue.

Sand Washing and Aggregate Processing

PRAESTOL 25100 is also widely used in sand washing and aggregate processing plants. During washing and classification, fine silt and clay particles become suspended in process water. PRAESTOL 25100 promotes rapid flocculation of these fines, enabling efficient settling in clarifiers and settling tanks.

This application reduces the need for large settling ponds, improves water recycling efficiency, and minimizes environmental discharge. At the same time, PRAESTOL 25100 enhances the quality of washed sand and aggregates by reducing residual fines content.

Operational Benefits and Performance Characteristics

The main advantages of PRAESTOL 25100 include high flocculation efficiency, low dosage requirement, and adaptability to a wide range of water chemistries. PRAESTOL 25100 performs well across a broad pH range and in both low- and high-solids systems. Proper polymer preparation, dilution, and aging are essential to achieve optimal chain extension and maximum flocculation efficiency.

Conclusion

In summary, PRAESTOL 25100 is a versatile and high-performance anionic flocculant used in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, sludge thickening and dewatering, mining, alumina refining, and aggregate processing. Its strong particle-bridging ability, stable performance, and cost-effectiveness make PRAESTOL 25100 a preferred solution for challenging solid–liquid separation applications across multiple industries.