Cationic polyacrylamide ZETAG 8180 DL is a high-performance, medium-to-high charge density flocculant widely applied in municipal wastewater treatment, industrial effluent management, sludge dewatering, and a variety of solid–liquid separation processes. As part of the ZETAG series (formerly produced by BASF, now part of Solenis), ZETAG 8180 DL is specifically formulated for applications where strong cationic charge, fast floc formation, and excellent dewatering performance are required. Its key strength lies in its ability to bridge negatively charged particles, enhance sludge structure, and produce clear filtrates even under harsh operating conditions.

Below is a comprehensive description of its primary application areas.

1. Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)

The largest and most common application of ZETAG 8180 DL is in municipal wastewater treatment, especially in processes dealing with biological sludge, mixed primary sludge, and digested sludge.

A. Sludge Dewatering

In municipal WWTPs, sludge dewatering is a critical step to reduce the volume of waste requiring disposal. ZETAG 8180 DL is widely used in:

• Centrifuges

• Belt filter presses

• Chamber filter presses

• Screw presses

• Drying beds and geotextile tubes

The cationic polymer binds fine solids, forming a strong and resilient floc structure that improves the release of water, resulting in:

• higher dry solids (DS) content

• reduced sludge cake volume

• lower transport and disposal cost

• faster dewatering cycles

Its strong cationic charge also neutralizes biological sludge effectively, even when properties fluctuate due to seasonal or influent variations.

B. Primary Clarification & Secondary Clarification

During primary and secondary clarification, ZETAG 8180 DL improves particle settling and reduces turbidity by:

• binding suspended solids

• enhancing sludge blanket formation

• improving floc stability under shear

This leads to clearer effluent and more stable operating conditions.

2. Industrial Wastewater Treatment

ZETAG 8180 DL is used broadly across industries where wastewater streams contain negatively charged fine solids, organic matter, oils, and emulsions.

Industries Using ZETAG 8180 DL:

• Petrochemical and refinery wastewater

• Pulp and paper mills

• Textile and dyeing industry

• Food and beverage processing

• Tannery and leather plants

• Pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing

• Metal plating and surface finishing plants

Functions in Industrial Wastewater:

• destabilizing colloidal suspensions

• removing emulsified oils and fats

• improving dissolved air flotation (DAF) performance

• separating fines in process water loops

• improving sludge thickening before dewatering

ZETAG 8180 DL is particularly effective when influent contains high organic loads or complex industrial contaminants that require a strong cationic polymer for flocculation.

3. Sludge Conditioning

One of the core applications of ZETAG 8180 DL is sludge conditioning—the process of preparing sludge for efficient dewatering. Sludge from various sources tends to be hydrophilic, making water release difficult. Through electrostatic attraction and polymer bridging, ZETAG 8180 DL:

• neutralizes negative charges on solids

• aggregates dispersed particles

• improves capillary suction time (CST)

• enhances sludge filterability

• stabilizes floc even under variable feed conditions

Conditioned sludge behaves in a more predictable manner, improving total plant efficiency.

4. Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Systems

DAF units rely on microbubbles attaching to particles to float them to the surface. ZETAG 8180 DL plays an essential role in:

• pre-flocculation (forming dense, bubble-friendly flocs)

• removal of oil and grease (O&G)

• separation of suspended solids and organic matter

• clarification of process water

It is especially effective in industries like food processing, oil refineries, and dairy wastewater where fats, oils, and proteins interfere with water quality.

5. Paper & Pulp Industry

In pulp and paper operations, ZETAG 8180 DL is used primarily for:

• clarification of white water

• sludge thickening in deinking operations

• fiber recovery

• effluent treatment

Its high cationic charge improves retention of fines and fillers, while also enhancing solid–liquid separation during wastewater treatment.

6. Mining and Mineral Processing (Selective Use)

Although anionic PAM is typically preferred for mining, certain mineral slurries with high negative charge density benefit from cationic flocculants like ZETAG 8180 DL.

Applications include:

• treatment of tailings with organic components

• clarification of process water containing clay and humic substances

• dewatering of biologically treated mine effluents

Its effectiveness in these specialty applications depends on ore type and slurry chemistry.

7. Oil & Gas / Refinery Applications

While not the primary sector, ZETAG 8180 DL is useful in:

• removing oil droplets and fine solids from produced water

• treating slop oil emulsions

• clarifying refinery effluent prior to discharge

Its ability to break complex emulsions and support DAF systems makes it valuable in upstream and downstream operations.

8. Food Industry and Organic-Rich Effluent

Industries with high levels of organic suspended solids—such as slaughterhouses, breweries, and sugar mills—use ZETAG 8180 DL to:

• remove proteins, fibers, and organic residues

• improve DAF unit performance

• enhance sludge dewaterability

• reduce chemical oxygen demand (COD)

Its strong charge density makes it ideal for organic-laden wastewater streams that are difficult to clarify.

9. Biogas and Anaerobic Digestion Plants

Digested sludge in biogas plants is often difficult to dewater. ZETAG 8180 DL:

• increases DS content of digested sludge cake

• reduces polymer consumption per ton of dry solids

• stabilizes floc under high shear

• improves centrifuge throughput

This directly boosts operational efficiency and lowers energy consumption.

Conclusion

The main application of cationic polyacrylamide ZETAG 8180 DL is in sludge dewatering and wastewater treatment, particularly in municipal treatment plants and industrial effluent systems. Its high cationic charge and robust floc strength make it ideal for dewatering biological sludge, conditioning organic-rich slurries, enhancing DAF performance, clarifying wastewater, and improving solid–liquid separation processes. ZETAG 8180 DL is widely used in municipal sewage plants, food and chemical industries, petroleum refineries, pulp and paper mills, and other operations where efficient flocculation is essential for compliance and cost reduction.