Environmentally Friendly,
Oil-Free Polymers

Research
Tramfloc, Inc. believes we can further refine the water treatment process for various industrial and municipal operations in a more environmentally friendly manner through advanced and innovative technology. It is our collective responsibility to protect our environment and water resources.

Acrylamide-based polymers are widely used to condition and purify water. These water-soluble polymers assist in removing suspended solids and contaminants and effecting separations. Traditionally, these polymers are produced as water-in-oil emulsions. Emulsions are prepared by combining the monomer, water, and a hydrocarbon oil/surfactant mixture in approximately equal parts. Although the oil and surfactant are required for processing, they do not contribute to the performance of the polymer.

New technology has been developed that permits production of the polymers as stable colloids in water, eliminating the use of oil and surfactants into the environment. Tramaxifloc offers non-oil based polymer dispersions with better performance. This was achieved by research and development efforts.

Composition	Copolymer of acrylamide and cationic monomer, harmonized and stabilized with functional inorganics in aqueous salt solution	Simple copolymer of acrylamide and cationic monomer in aqueous salt solution
Polymerization process	Inorganic flocculants have high density cationic charges. Unless stabilized with a special process, these inorganic flocculants are easily agglomerated. Through proprietary process by our technology, functional inorganic flocculants, and polymer particles in salt solution are stabilized and dispersed in a stable formulation. In order to achieve the maximum stabilization, an extremely small amount of surfactant is employed, less than 1000 PPM.	Standard polymerization
Performance and Property	Narrower molecular weight distribution for higher performance, more stable dispersion. Lower Viscosity-typically 30 cp. Lower viscosity means more stabilized dispersion, ease of handling and rapid dissolving. Higher polymerization product-Viscosity of 3% solution is 160 cp. This means Tramaxifloc is a linear polymer with higher polymerization. When used as a retention aid, it shows excellent performance on high speed paper machines.	Regular molecular weight distribution Regular viscosity(typically, 100 cp) Viscosity of 3% solution-120 cp(standard performance)
Dewatering	Tramaxifloc is an organic polymer with functional inorganic flocculants. These inorganic flocculants dramatically decrease water content of sludge. The inorganic flocculants also work as coagulants, resulting in shear stabilization and enhancing the performance of organic polymer's flocculation.	As it is an organic polymer, floc produced during dispersion contains more water. Dewatering can be less effective.
The unique benefit of colloidal silica for paper mill wet end application	With its wide surface area, fine particles and anionic trash are absorbed, which can not be achieved by organic polymers alone. This results in 10-15% increase in OPR. Colloidal silica forms a matrix with organic polymers, and enhances.	Does not contain colloidal silica.

Industry Background

High molecular weight polyacrylamides are commonly used as process aids and water treatment agents in various industrial and municipal operations. Annually, at least 200 million pounds of water soluble, acrylamide-based polymers are used to condition and purify water. These water-soluble polymers assist in removing suspended solids and contaminants.

However, the oil and surfactant are only required for processing, not for performance of the polymer. As a result, approximately 90 million pounds of oil and surfactant are released to the environment each year unnecessarily.

Our Solution

Tramaxifloc was developed by producing polymers as stable colloids in water, eliminating the introduction of oil and surfactants into the formulation and hence, into the environment. Formulation employs a proprietary process of combining a hydrophilic polymeric dispersion containing an inorganic flocculant. The result is higher cake solids in dewatering.

The Competitive Edge

• Cost effective formulation with no oils or surfactants.
• Ease of handling-This is a user-friendly aqueous product. This product does not require a special feeding system.
• Reduces fresh water usage
• Higher stability of settled floc
• Dissolves freely in freshwater or salt water
• Performs over wide pH range.
• Further declining and reducing water contents of flock and sludge after wastewater treatment.(smallest water contents)

• First, the new process eliminates the use of hydrocarbon solvents and surfactants required in the manufacture of emulsion polymers. Dispersion polymers produce no VOC's and exhibit lower biological oxygen demand (BOD) and lower chemical oxygen demand (COD) than conventional emulsion polymers.
• Second, the ammonium sulfate is a waste by-product from the production of caprolactam. Caprolactam is the precursor in the manufacture of nylon.
• Finally, dispersion polymers eliminate the need for costly equipment and inverter surfactants needed for mixing emulsion polymers. This technological advantage will make wastewater treatment less costly.

Tramaxifloc^TM contains the same active polymer component as traditional emulsion polymers without employing oil and surfactant carrier systems. The polymers are produced as stable colloids in water, retaining ease and safety of handling while eliminating the release of oil and surfactants into the environment.

Applications

Municipal Sludge Dewatering
Petroleum Refining
Cattle, Hog and Poultry Processing
Mining and Minerals
Steel Production
Metal Working
Automotive
Food and Beverage
Chemical Processing and Refining
Utility Plants

Samples for evaluation are available upon request.

Comparison of Three Polymer Forms
Flocculants for Wastewater Treatment and Retention Aids for Papermaking

TramaxiflocTM Dispersion Polymer (with collidal silica)	Emulsion product	Dry powder
Dramatic effect on retention(including CaCO3, TiO2), thus stabilize "Stock Preparation"	Standard	Standard
Further cleans wires, enhanced and cleaner whitewater quality	Standard	Standard
Due to the improvement of whitewater quality, less fresh water usage required.	Standard	Standard
Easy to Feed; does not require expensive make-up ready system often associated with emulsion polymers.	Associated expensive make-up ready system required. High cost of installation and operation.	Associated expensive make-up ready system required. High cost of installation and operation
No aging required; dissolves freely in fresh water.	24-72 hour aging required	Extensive time required for dissolution
Lower freezing temperature than emulsion polymers.	Standard	Lowest freezing temperature(powder)
High solubility, ease of use.	Stand solubility	Poor solubility, 1)loss in performance 2)less sludge formation
Excellent co-flocculation with colloidal silica, alum or PAC; produces strong floc with less water content.	Standard	N/A
No VOCs, and lower biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) than emulsion polymers	BOD, COD increase, VOC	N/A
Extended product shelf life time with no layer separation.	Standard. Layer separation may occur	No VOCs, No COD Increase.
Tolerates poor quality make down water	High quality fresh water required for make down	Standard
Low viscosity and can be fed automatically	Standard.	N/A
Can be used over wide pH range	Limited pH range	N/A
Cost effective, noble, environmentally friendly solution.	High cost of application, releasing oils through wastewater stream(increases BOD, COD)	Very hard to feed automatically.