Filtration-grade anionic PAM is evaluated where mineral or inorganic floc must release water through a filter medium and form a manageable cake. Settling tests can shortlist candidates, but they do not reproduce pressure, cloth weave or cake discharge.
Define the filter duty
Identify vacuum belt, plate-and-frame, recessed chamber, pressure filter or another device. Record feed solids, cycle stages, pressure or vacuum, cloth type, wash sequence, cake target, filtrate target and the process value of shorter cycles.
Separate the chemical objective from mechanical limitations. Worn cloth, blinded media, uneven feed, restricted filtrate lines or poor cake discharge can imitate an unsuitable polymer.
Screen floc without damaging it
Compare candidates at equal active dose and consistent solution age. Mix enough to distribute polymer, then use gentle growth and a defined shear challenge. Observe free-water release, filtrate clarity and whether the floc survives transfer.
Excess polymer can create sticky cake, slower drainage or cloth coating. Weak distribution can leave alternating clean and turbid zones. The useful window must protect both capture and permeability.
Confirm with a controlled filter cycle
Hold feed and machine settings constant for the initial comparison. Record filtrate volume and solids over time, fill time, pressure rise, cake moisture or solids, cake release, cloth wash demand and total cycle time.
Calculate product consumption per dry ton and include throughput, wash water, cleaning and cake transport. A lower dose is not lower cost when fines return to the process or the filter cycle lengthens.
Prepare the RFQ package
Send representative solids, water chemistry, equipment, present product and dose, cycle data, filtrate and cake targets, monthly demand and delivery destination. Request adjacent products only when the trial plan can distinguish them.