Polyacrylamide (PAM) for Erosion Control Applications

2001 Southeastern Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Symposium

Warren Cohn CPESCACF Environmental Inc.

wcohn@acfevironmental.com

APS Polyacrylamide (PAM) products are environmentally safe, water-soluble

polymer flocculants that reduce soil erosion and turbidity in storm water runoff.

General Introduction APS / PAM Products

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PAM polymers interact predominantly with the clay and fine fractions of soils

PAM creates an electro-chemical reaction that induces these fine soil particles to cluster together

Clustered particles are more resistant to erosive forces and aid in deposition

The intent of this presentation is introduce the design, safety and application issues

related to Pam for erosion control application. The actual processes of the

electro-chemical reactions that induce the flocculation of the soil particles will not be

covered.

The USDA PAM Research Project has evaluated Polyacrylamide technology

The degree of the interaction depends on both the properties of the polymer and the electrolyte properties of the soils.

ACF Environmental provides site specific soil analysis to ensureproper selection and maximum performance of PAM

One size does not fit all!

APS 700 Series Silt Stop® is a PAM powder specifically tailored for controlling soil erosion.

General Introduction APS / PAM Products

APS

The powder can be applied in dry form, or…

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…the PAM powder can be mixed into a hydro seeder for hydraulic application.

APS 600 Series Silt Stop® is a PAM emulsion specifically tailored for controlling soil erosion that provides easier and quicker mixing for hydraulic applications.

APS PAM is also available as a Floc Log, a semi-hydrated gel block that, when placed within storm water or construction site runoff, will remove fine particles

and reduce Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) values.

PAM may not always be 100% effective in preventing soil particle movement, especially in the case of less frequent, more extreme rain events.

Nephelometer: an apparatus for measuring the concentration of a suspension, as of bacteria or some substance in solution, by comparing the brightness of light passed through it with that passed through a set of standard solutions of barium chloride.

Webster’s New World Dictionary

APS / PAM Products

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APS Floc Logs are approximately:

12” Long

4” Thick

6” wide

With a rope and attachment loop

As water flows over the logs, they slowly dissolve, introducing the PAM into the flowing water

The APS Floc Logs represent the second phase of a conservative “belt and suspenders” approach to PAM implementation.

The Floc Logs can be tied to in a stake in an open channel, or…

…tied to and hung from drainage inlet grates…

Floc Log tied to grate in place in drainage pipe

UntreatedTreated

Immediately after mixing

UntreatedTreated

2 minutes after mixing

UntreatedTreated

5 minutes after mixing

UntreatedTreated

15 minutes after mixing

UntreatedTreated

20 minutes after mixing

UntreatedTreated

10 hours after mixing

•Newly cleared construction site drainage

•Road and Highway construction runoff ditches

•Ditch placement for all forms of highly turbid waters

•Dredging operations as a flocculator

General Introduction APS / PAM Products

Primary Applications

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PAM Floc Logs in remediation applicationFloc Logs may be used in remediation cleaning of sediment laden waterFloc Logs can be installed into a container device,

APS FLOC LOGS Hanging Inside 30/50

Gallon Drum

Sediment laden water is then pumped thru container device with and then into a filter bag lined with organic jute,…

…effluent out of bag will be clean

pump

Filter Bag

PAM Floc Logs in remediation applicationAnother option is to pump treated water into a clean pond…

APS FLOC LOGS Hanging Inside 30/50

Gallon Drum

…treated particles will settle out of water

pump

PAM Floc Logs in remediation applicationAnother option is to pump treated water into a clean pond…

Contaminated Water may be run over APS FLOC

LOGS

…treated particles will settle out of water

pump

Benefits ofAPS / PAM ProductsErosion Prevention BMP

Water Quantity BMP

Water Quality BMP

Cost Effective

Safety & Compliance

Applied Polymer Systems, Inc.TM

PAM(Polyacrylamide)

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As water flows across soil surface, an uplift force is created,

PAM as an Erosion Prevention BMP

Soil erosion then takes place, lifting fine soil particles into suspension…

Treated soil particles cluster together at the soil surface so that when uplift forces are created…

PAM as an Erosion Prevention BMP

The larger soil particle clusters are more resistant erosive forces

Limiting the volume of ground water infiltration…

PAM as a Water Quantity BMPFine soil particles tend to clog the soil surface…

Treated soil particles cluster together at the surface to provide better soil structure for ground water infiltration (and aeration)

PAM as a Water Quantity BMP

Research indicates that total runoff volumes can be reduced by 10% to 15% with PAM treatment and that seed germination is also enhanced by additional water and aeration

creating turbidity in outflow from ponds and basins…

PAM as a Water Quality BMPFine soil particles tend to remain in suspension,

Outflow

Treated soil particles cluster together to aid deposition,

PAM as a Water Quality BMP

reducing turbidity in outflow from ponds and basins

Outflow

Cost effective – as low as $0.01 to $0.02 sy (per acre) for material, $0.02 to $0.08 sy (per acre) in place.

APS / PAM Products

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ANSI/NSFEPA Toxicological & Ecological StandardsOSHA

PA DEPPA Fish & Boat CommissionNJ DEP

Safety and Compliance Applied Polymer

Systems, Inc.TM

PAM(Polyacrylamide)

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Safety and Compliance

ANSI/NSF

STANDARD 60

APS PAM is certified safe as an ANSI / NSF STANDARD 60

Drinking Water Treatment Chemical Additive

APS / PAM Products

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NSF Certified Product Listings

Safety and Compliance

ANSI / NSF

STANDARD 60

APS / PAM Products

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The NSF is an independent, non-profit organization committed to public health safety and protection of the environment by developing standards, and providing education and third-party conformity assessment services.

NSF certification programs are accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

EPA Toxicological & Ecological Standards•Toxicity – Oral LD50/oral/rat>5000 mg/kg

•Ecological – Fish LC50Fathead minnows/96h> 1000 mg/l

Safety and ComplianceAPS / PAM Products

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OSHAProduct is not considered hazardous in accordance

with OSHA Federal Regulation 29 CFR

1910.1200.

Safety and ComplianceAPS / PAM Products

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Safety and Compliance

PAM (Polyacrylamide)

The PA DEP conducted a

thorough review of the safety and

compliance information before

approving for usage in PA…

Safety and Compliance

PAM (Polyacrylamide)

As did the PA Fish & Boat Commission

also.

Case Histories

Golf Courses

Construction SitesApplied Polymer Systems, Inc.TM

PAM(Polyacrylamide)

APSACF Environmental Inc.

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Construction SitesApplied Polymer Systems, Inc.TM

PAM(Polyacrylamide)

APSACF Environmental Inc.

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Swedesford Chase

Swedesford Chase Housing development / Chester County, PA

Erosion from construction site contaminated ponds with fine colloidal clay particles

The fine particles would not settle in pond and eventually the colloidal solution discharged into a high quality / exceptional value stream

After the site specific soil analysis, APS 640 emulsion was recommended to treat disturbed soil

Five gallon container of

PAM Emulsion

16 oz. Cup was used to measure emulsion for mixing

The APS 640 emulsion was then mixed into the water tank with theagitation on

The APS 640 emulsion/water mixture was then applied to the disturbed soil at a predetermined rate of 1.5 gallons of emulsion and 3,000 gallons

of water per acre

For a more conservative approach, Floc Logs were tied to inlet grates

Floc Log tied to grate in place in drainage pipe

Temporary berms were placed in the streets of the development to divert runoff into the inlet grates

In areas where sheet flow collected in drainage swales, Floc Logs were tied to stakes placed in the ditch

As the water flows over it, the Floc Log slowly dissolves and introduces the PAM into the flowing water

The treatment with Pam facilitated settlement of the fine clay particles

Evidence of the settlement of the fine clay particles

The water in the ponds after PAM treatment…

…is considerably cleaner than prior to the PAM treatment

Here is an example of the clarity of the water after Pam treatment

As treated water flowed off site, no more sediment contaminated flow went into the high quality / exceptional value stream

Golf Courses Applied Polymer Systems, Inc.TM

PAM(Polyacrylamide)

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Beacon Hill Golf Course, N VA

Significant Area of Disturbed Soil

Sediment laden water in sedimentation pond

Pond spillway structure

Small creek running through site

Direction of flow

Overflow from pond

Sediment contamination of creek

3ft depth of creek 30 yards downstream of

pond

Disturbed soil was treated with PAM

Organic materials, such as the Jute matting used here, can be used to filter out and retain treated soil particles because…

…treated soil particles will also attach to organic materials

Direction of creek flow

Pond Overflow

Pond runoff after PAM treatment of disturbed soil

3ft depth of creek 30 yards downstream of

pond

After PAM treatment

Before PAM treatment3ft depth of creek 30 yards downstream of pond

Creek downstream of pond after PAM treatment

Thank you

Serenity Lake, North Carolina

Entire lake area needed regular maintenance for sedimentation

Floc logs were placed in upstream ditch

Organic jute/coir-fiber particle curtains were installed at lake entrance

Curtains filter flow and allow time for deposition of flocculated particles, reducing the sediment load to the lake

1st section 2nd section

2nd section

Lake3rd section

PAM SummaryPAM is a cost effective erosion & sediment control, water quality and water quantity BMP

PAM performance and safety is based upon specific soil and PAM product characteristics

PAM is not a stand alone BMP but works best when implemented to enhance performance of a BMP “treatment train”

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