PAC Polyaluminium Chloride

Last on the chain — but it decides the effluent

After hot-wash separation, the water still carries stabilized emulsified oil droplets and ultra-fine particles, with high turbidity and high COD. By compressing the electrical double layer and through adsorption, PAC first destabilizes these stable systems into micro-flocs; PAM then grows them into flocs large enough to settle — and the treated-water specification is secured.

Supplied together with C50N3 at a major Chinese oil & gas group East China and South China bases (January and April 2024); the supply records are listed on the Cases page.

Destabilizes and removes turbidity: rapidly neutralizes colloidal charge for short coagulation-settling times and dense, compact flocs
Works with PAM: the standard sequence is PAC first, then PAM, with the dosing interval adjustable per the bench test
Wide pH tolerance: keeps its coagulation effect even when oilfield wastewater pH fluctuates heavily
Matched to the C50N3 process chain for final-stage clarification, removing residual oil and turbidity

Note: PAC's appearance/physical form, storage life and solution-preparation parameters follow the product data sheet delivered with the order; the values on this page are reference values.

Note: Packaging, active content and storage life are standard reference values. Treatment results vary with the water source and the process configuration — bench tests and third-party testing prevail.

Use Cases

Four water streams, one chemical

Hot-wash recycle water

Oily wastewater after C50N3 hot-wash separation is coagulated and returned to the hot wash, cutting the need for fresh water.

Oily wastewater pretreatment

Neutralization and coagulation of drainage from combined stations and transfer stations, used together with flotation or settling units.

Inlet load reduction at hazardous waste plants

Wastewater coagulation in the oily-waste pretreatment stage of hazardous waste treatment plants, lowering the load on back-end processes.

Cuttings-site drainage

Coagulation and clarification of drainage from oily cuttings treatment at offshore platforms or onshore processing sites.

Combined Dosing

PAC + PAM — one destabilizes, one bridges

The division of labor is clear: PAC breaks up the stable system; PAM pulls the freed particles together into large flocs that settle.

Chemical	Function	Dosing order	Role in the chain
PAC	Charge neutralization and double-layer compression destabilize the emulsified oil and fine solids	Dosed first	The "starter" of final-stage clarification
PAM	Adsorption-bridging grows the micro-flocs into large ones that settle fast	Dosed after; interval set by bench test	The "accelerator" of settling and solids–liquid separation
C50N3	Upstream demulsification, sharply reducing the oil left in the water after hot-wash separation	Earlier process stages	The upstream variable that decides final water quality

View PAM Product Page Get Compatibility & Dosing Plan

Chain Position

Four stages, each chemical with its own job

Process stage	Chemical	Function	Notes
1 · Pretreatment	PL15	Viscosity reduction of high-viscosity sludge	Chosen based on material viscosity
2 · Hot-wash separation	C50N3	Demulsification and wetting; oil content of the solids <2%	With hot water and mechanical agitation
3 · Aqueous-phase flocculation	PAM	Flocculates the fine solids for settling; speeds solids–liquid separation	Cationic type; standard in the process chain
4 · Final clarification	PAC	Coagulation removes oil and turbidity at the final clarification stage	This product

FAQ

About PAC

Can PAC replace PAM — can it work on its own?

The two work by different mechanisms: PAC destabilizes, PAM bridges. Used alone, PAC produces micro-flocs that settle slowly and a supernatant that tends to turn turbid again; used alone, PAM neutralizes charge insufficiently and bridging can fail. Combined dosing is the standard in the process chain, with order and interval settled by the bench test.

Can the treated water be discharged or reused directly?

Whether it can be discharged depends on the local discharge standards and on the whole process being compliant. What we provide is the treatment-capacity figure for the final coagulation-clarification stage; discharge compliance must be confirmed against whole-system effluent testing and local regulatory requirements.

Oily wastewater varies a lot in oil content and turbidity — how do we select?

Apply the same "bench test first, bulk later" rule as C50N3: take representative water samples and run graduated comparisons of PAC content and dosage, covering dosing point and agitation conditions, and we deliver the parameter recommendations.

Can a hazardous waste plant swap in our chemical directly?

Usually, yes. We first review your existing dosing system and operating parameters, supply samples for graduated on-site verification, and then agree the replacement plan and the dosing schedule for the transition period.

Last on the chain — but it decides the effluent

Four water streams, one chemical

Hot-wash recycle water

Oily wastewater pretreatment

Inlet load reduction at hazardous waste plants

Cuttings-site drainage

PAC + PAM — one destabilizes, one bridges

Four stages, each chemical with its own job

Chemicals for the other process stages

Oil Sludge Separator

Viscosity Reducer

Cationic Flocculant

About PAC

Is the effluent specification the sticking point?