Anionic Polyacrylamide: Time Tested Technology Adapts to Meet Needs of Evolving Industry

Seva Iwinski Bray

Polyacrylamides (PAMs) are versatile and effective tools for stabilizing soils and removing contaminants from stormwater and other turbid water. PAMs have a long history of use for erosion control and water treatment. They have been researched and utilized in agriculture since the 1950s and in drinking and wastewater treatment since the 1970s. Anionic PAM and anionic PAM based technologies have been used in the E&SC and stormwater industry with safe and effective results for decades. This presentation will discuss proven, safe, and effective anionic PAMs and how they are utilized to enhance existing BMPs for erosion and sediment control and stormwater treatment. Due to the positive results seen when using this technology correctly treatment systems have needed to evolve and adapt so that they are able to be used in a wider range of projects and applications. In this presentation, twenty years of data will be highlighted and discussed that represent dozens of projects nationwide that have successfully utilized PAM logs to remove 95%+ of turbidity from water. New treatment methods and applications will also be discussed using anionic PAM based technologies.

Presented by Seva Iwinski Bray

Applied Polymer Systems

Seva Iwinski Bray is an Environmental Scientist and Vice President at Applied Polymer Systems, Inc. She oversees production of Applied Polymer Systems product line and assists in researching new uses for polymers in erosion and sediment control and water clarification. She holds a BS in BioEnvironmental Science from Texas A&M University. She is also highly involved in technical training sessions to educate companies, agency personnel and firms that anticipate using or are interested in furthering their knowledge on Polymer Enhanced Best Management Practices.