General application category
These grades are typically used where fine suspended particles or sludge need to be converted into larger, stronger flocs that can be separated mechanically or by gravity. The products are usually selected through jar testing and pilot trials based on sludge type, solids concentration, pH, and dewatering equipment.
Likely application areas
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Product
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Likely application area
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TC-391R
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Municipal and industrial sludge dewatering, especially where stronger floc formation is needed.
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TC-390RH
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High-performance sludge conditioning for centrifuges or belt presses; the “H” designation often indicates a higher-charge or stronger dewatering grade.
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TC-390RL
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Sludge thickening and dewatering where a milder or lower-charge grade is preferred; the “L” designation often suggests a lower-charge variant.
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The exact distinction between the “RH” and “RL” variants should be confirmed with the manufacturer’s technical data sheet, but many polymer product families use similar naming to differentiate charge density or performance characteristics.
Major industrial applications
1. Municipal sewage sludge dewatering
One of the primary uses is conditioning waste activated sludge, digested sludge, or mixed sludge before mechanical dewatering. The polymer is added upstream of a centrifuge, belt filter press, or screw press. It binds fine particles together into larger flocs, improving solids capture and reducing water content in the final cake. Better flocculation can reduce polymer consumption, improve cake dryness, and increase equipment throughput.
2. Industrial wastewater treatment
These grades can also be applied in clarifiers, dissolved air flotation systems, or sludge treatment systems handling industrial wastewater. Typical industries include food processing, pulp and paper, chemicals, textiles, mining, and metal finishing. The polymer promotes rapid settling of suspended solids and improves sludge thickening before disposal or further treatment. Flocculants are widely used across industrial sectors for clarification and solids separation.
3. Sludge thickening
Before dewatering, many plants concentrate dilute sludge streams. The polymer helps form dense flocs that release water more readily, producing a thicker sludge feed for downstream equipment. This can reduce the hydraulic load on dewatering systems and improve overall plant efficiency.
4. Clarification and sedimentation
In sedimentation basins or clarifiers, the polymer helps small particles aggregate into larger flocs that settle quickly. This application is common in wastewater clarification and some industrial process-water systems. Effective flocculation reduces turbidity and suspended solids in the overflow stream.
How these products are typically used
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The product is diluted with water to prepare a polymer solution.
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The solution is aged and mixed according to supplier recommendations.
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The polymer is injected into the sludge or wastewater stream.
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Gentle mixing allows floc formation without breaking the flocs.
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The conditioned sludge is sent to a centrifuge, belt press, screw press, or gravity thickener.
Proper polymer activation and mixing are critical because insufficient dissolution or excessive shear can significantly reduce performance. Industrial flocculants generally require controlled dilution, aging, and feed systems to achieve consistent results.
Why different grades exist
Different sludge types respond differently to polymer charge density and molecular weight. A municipal biological sludge may require a different polymer than an industrial inorganic sludge. Manufacturers therefore offer multiple grades so operators can optimize:
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Filtrate or centrate clarity
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Floc strength and shear resistance
Higher-charge grades are often chosen for difficult-to-dewater biological sludges, while lower-charge grades may perform better on certain industrial sludges or clarification duties. The actual selection should always be based on jar testing or pilot trials.
In practical terms, Tsukishima TC-391R, TC-390RH, and TC-390RL are most likely used as sludge dewatering and wastewater-treatment flocculants. Their main role is to create larger, stronger flocs that settle or dewater efficiently, improving solids separation in municipal and industrial treatment systems. The “RH” and “RL” designations likely represent different performance variants within the same product family, typically related to charge density or application focus.
