Polyacrylamide is made up of acrylamide monomer and is water-soluble. It increases the viscosity of water and facilitates the flocculation of particles present in water.

Polyacrylamide is used for water treatment and sludge dewatering of municipal wastewater, industrial wastewater, potable water treatment, air flotation, and primary settling. The wide use of polyacrylamide in wastewater treatment has fueled growth of polyacrylamide market globally. Polyacrylamide supports are usually gelatinous in appearance and soft in nature. They also exhibit low nonspecific binding character toward biomolecules, buffer stability, and good pH, owing to totally synthetic nature, are resistant to microbial growth

Anionic polyacrylamide appear as white powder and have a molecular weight ranging from 6 to 25 million water soluble. This enables it to be dissolved in water in any proportion and insoluble in organic solvents. Characteristics include effective PH range of 7-14, high-polymer electrolyte, and electrolyte salt sensitive. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is suitable for separation of molecules by size and can be applied in different systems subject to the sample and downstream applications. Polyacrylamide gels thinner than agarose gels are poured between glass plates. This facilitates resolving power albeit, allowing the investigator with the separation of nucleic acid molecules above a much larger size range.

Polyacrylamide Market Taxonomy

On the basis of type of material, the global market is classified into:

Anionic

Cationic

Non-ionic

On the basis of end-use industry, the global market is segmented into:

Mineral Processing

Wastewater treatment

Pulp and Paper

Oil recovery

In mineral processing, polyacrylamide is used for settlement/clarification of fine coal slurry in the thickening vessels, enhancement of solid-liquid separation coal with the help of filtration/centrifugation, settlement/clarification of the waste slurry and enhancement of solid-liquid separation of the tailings. In the paper and pulp industry, polyacrylamide is used as retention agent, dry strength agents and for filter aid. This has resulted in improved paper quality, enhanced physical strength of paper and reduced fiber loss. Drilling fluid additives, waste mud dewatering, enhanced oil recovery, oily water clarification, scale inhibition and as a drag reduced agent

Polyacrylamide Market Outlook – Rapid growth of Water treatment Market to Augment Demand for Polyacrylamide

Excellent flocculating and coagulating properties has rapidly increased consumption of polyacrylamide in wastewater treatment. Asia Pacific is expected to be the most potential market for polyacrylamide manufacturers. This is attributed to booming mining industry in emerging economies such as India and China. According to IBEF, in 2015, India produced 91.46 million tons (MT) of finished steel and is the third-largest steel producer in the world. Rapidly increasing urbanization and allied sectors have caused a surge in mining activities and boosted the growth of polyacrylamide market. India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) is a Trust founded by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce in collaboration with the Government of India with the aim of promoting and creating international awareness of goods manufactured in India.

Fluctuating prices of raw material such as acrylonitrile is expected to be one of the restraining factors for growth of synthetic rope market over the forecast period. Mergers and expansions is one of the key strategies adopted by the top players in the polyacrylamide market to maintain their position. In April 2016, BASF SE set up a new bio-acrylamide manufacturing facility in Bradford. This will complement the company’s product portfolio of polyacrylamide with improved supply reliability and operational efficiency. Some of the major companies operating in the global polyacrylamide market are Shandong Shuiheng Chemical Co., Ltd., The Dow Chemical Company, Kemira, Ashland Inc., BASF SE, Beijing Heng- Chemical Group Co., Ltd., Shandong Zibo East Polymer Co., Ltd., Group, and Xitao Polymer Co., Ltd.

Key Developments