Your reliable partner for polymers and flocculants

Flocculants - often in the form of synthetic polymers - are high-molecular, water-soluble agents that bind fine particles, colloidal substances and difficult-to-settle solids in water to form larger flocs.
They work by forming bridges between particles ("bridging") or by changing the surface forces of the particles through their electrical charge ("charge neutralization"). As a result, the particles become heavier, sediment faster and are easier to filter or flotate.

Typical areas of application:

• Industrial wastewater treatment: improvement of solids separation after chemical precipitation (e.g. iron, aluminum, lime salts)

• Process water treatment: Removal of solid impurities in cooling and boiler water circuits

• Sludge conditioning: improvement of the dewatering properties in chamber filter presses, belt filter systems or centrifuges

• Membrane systems: Prevention of solids ingress that could lead to fouling or blockages

• Flotation systems: Optimization of the air bubble-particle interaction for the separation of light particles or oils

Advantage in industry: Without suitable flocculants, solids are difficult to separate, the effluent remains cloudy and legal limits (e.g. COD, TSS) can be exceeded.

• Anionic polymers: Negatively charged, ideal for solids with a positive surface charge, e.g. after metal or lime precipitation.

• Cationic polymers: Positively charged, ideally suited for sludge conditioning and dewatering of organic sludges.

• Non-ionic polymers: Neutrally charged, universally applicable, e.g. with strongly fluctuating pH values or in salty media.

The choice depends on particle characteristics, water chemistry and system technology.

Polymer selection is a critical parameter for the operational safety and economic efficiency of a water or wastewater treatment system.
The wrong product or an unsuitable setting can lead to massive operational disruptions - often only visible when it is already too late:

Typical risks of incorrect selection:

• Increased turbidity and exceeding of limit values → Plant operators risk fines and regulatory requirements

• Unstable floc formation → fine particles enter downstream stages, e.g. membranes, heat exchangers or biological stages

• Overdosing → unnecessary operating costs and increased sludge production

• Sludge problems → poor drainage, higher disposal fees, clogged drainage machines

• System performance decreases → reduced throughput, increased cleaning intervals, unplanned downtimes

• Downstream processes suffer → e.g. faster biofouling in membrane systems or reduced heat exchanger performance

Optimization potential that can be exploited with the right choice of polymer:

• Higher throughput without system expansion

• Constant compliance with legal limits

• Longer service life of system components

• Reduced disposal costs due to improved dry matter content in the sludge

• More stable process control with fluctuating raw water quality

The optimal product selection is not based on gut feeling, but on a structured, technical process:

1. Laboratory analysis of the raw or waste water

   • Determination of pH value, conductivity, salt content, particle size, particle surface charge (zeta potential)

2. On-site tests (jar tests)

   • Simulation of flocculation under real operating conditions with different polymer types and dosages

3. Process analysis

   • Consideration of flow paths, residence times, stirring conditions, dosing points and temperature profiles

4. Compatibility check

   • Coordination with precipitants, biocides or other process additives used

5. Pilot operation

   • Test phase with continuous measurement of discharge values, sludge parameters and chemical consumption

In this way, we ensure that the polymer is used in a technically perfect and economically optimal way.

The advantages of our products lie not only in their high chemical effectiveness, but above all in the fact that they are specifically tailored to your system, your water and your operating conditions. This allows us to eliminate typical operating problems that regularly occur in many systems:

Frequent problems in practice:

• High effluent turbidity due to incomplete solids separation

• Unstable floc formation, which leads to sludge losses and filtration problems

• Excessive chemical consumption due to incorrect product selection or dosing

• Poorer sludge dewatering → Higher disposal and transportation costs

• Loading of downstream stages (membranes, heat exchangers, biological stages) by fine particles

How we solve these problems:

• Individual advice from experienced process engineers who analyze your system and your process on site

• Laboratory tests (jar tests) for the targeted selection of charge density, molecular weight and product type

• Practical tests directly in your system to determine the optimum dosing quantity, activation time and dosing point

• Coordination with precipitants and other additives to utilize synergies and avoid precipitation problems

• Continuous process monitoring with measurements, evaluations and optimization recommendations

Your measurable advantages:

• Permanently stable discharge values and compliance with legal limits

• Reduced chemical consumption and lower operating costs

• Higher dry matter content in the sludge and reduced disposal costs

• Longer service life of filters and membranes

• Maximum operational reliability even with fluctuating supply quality

We supply polymers & flocculants in three main forms - each with specific benefits:

• Powder polymers

  • High storage stability (up to 2 years)

  • Very concentrated → low transport volume

  • Requires dissolution in a polymer preparation station

  • Ideal for systems with high consumption

• Emulsion polymers

  • Quickly soluble, short activation time

  • Easy to use with dosing pump

  • Require less installation effort than powder polymers

  • Suitable for medium to high consumption

• Ready-to-use solutions

  • Can be dosed directly without preparation

  • Particularly suitable for small to medium-sized systems or test phases

  • Minimizes operating effort and potential errors

All variants are available in flexible container sizes - from 25 kg canisters to IBC containers or truck tankers.

Yes - ALMA AQUA offers OEM and private label solutions for resellers, plant manufacturers and service companies. We produce and fill exactly to your specifications, discreetly and with a strong brand.

At ALMA AQUA, technical support is an integral part of our value proposition.
Our services include:

• On-site dosing optimization

  • Adjustment of dosing points, stirring conditions and dosing quantities

• Laboratory and operational tests

  • Comparison of different products under real operating conditions

• Training for operating personnel

  • Correct storage, handling, dosing and safety

• Integration in automation technology

  • Integration into existing or new dosing and monitoring systems

• Digital reporting

  • Ongoing documentation of process values, chemical consumption and optimization potential

• Fast response times

  • Technicians are on site at short notice in the event of acute problems

The result: maximum system efficiency, less downtime, lower operating costs.

The efficiency of a polymer depends heavily on the process parameters.

• pH value: Influences the surface charge of the solids and therefore the binding efficiency. Some cationic polymers lose effectiveness at very high pH values, while anionic polymers can be less effective in acidic environments.

• Temperature: Elevated temperatures accelerate the reaction kinetics, but can lead to a reduction in the polymer chain length at very high values (>60 °C).

• Salt content: High ionic strength (e.g. in seawater or industrial wastewater containing salt) influences the charge distribution and floc size. Specially modified polymers are often used here.

We therefore always select and test products under the real operating conditions of your process in order to rule out any loss of performance.

The charge density determines how strongly a polymer can interact with particles or flakes.

• Charge density too low → weak particle binding, small, unstable flakes

• Charge density too high → Particle overload, flocs disintegrate again ("restabilization")
  The optimum charge density depends on the type of solids, their surface charge, the precipitant used and the system parameters.
  We use zeta potential measurements in the laboratory and practical tests to determine the exact value at which floc formation is at a maximum.