Can Cationic Polyacrylamide be used in drinking water treatment?
2026-04-14 10:43:28
Can Cationic Polyacrylamide be used in drinking water treatment?
Yes,food-grade and drinking-water-grade Cationic Polyacrylamide(CPAM)can be safely used in drinking water treatment,but it must meet strict national and international standards for residual monomer,purity,and heavy metal content.
1.Main uses in drinking water treatment
Clarify raw water from rivers,lakes,and reservoirs
Flocculate suspended solids,algae,humus,and colloidal particles
Improve sedimentation efficiency and reduce turbidity
Assist in removing micro-pollutants and organic matter
2.Strict safety requirements
Only special drinking water grade CPAM is allowed,which must satisfy:
Residual acrylamide monomer≤0.05%(very low level)
Heavy metals(Pb,As,Hg,Cr,etc.)meet drinking water additive standards
Produced in food-grade production lines with no toxic impurities
3.Advantages over ordinary flocculants
Low dosage,high flocculation efficiency
Forms dense,fast-settling flocs
Less sludge production
Can be used together with PAC,ferric sulfate,etc.
4.Limitations
Ordinary industrial CPAM cannot be used for drinking water.
CPAM is less common in drinking water than nonionic or anionic PAM because cationic types have stricter formulation controls.
Must be dosed accurately to avoid residual polymer in finished water.
5.Regulatory compliance
It is permitted in drinking water treatment in many countries,including:
China(GB standards for drinking water additives)
USA(EPA regulations)
EU standards
WHO guidelines
In short:Yes,but only dedicated drinking-water-grade CPAM with ultra-low residual monomer is permitted.
References
GB/T 7714
Li,S.,Wang,H.,&Zhang,Y.(2022).Application safety of polyacrylamide in drinking water treatment.China Water&Wastewater,38(7),112–116.
MLA
Li,S.,H.Wang,and Y.Zhang."Application Safety of Polyacrylamide in Drinking Water Treatment."China Water&Wastewater,vol.38,no.7,2022,pp.112–116.
APA
Li,S.,Wang,H.,&Zhang,Y.(2022).Application safety of polyacrylamide in drinking water treatment.China Water&Wastewater,38(7),112–116.
