The CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) number 40372-66-5 is assigned to a specific chemical compound, which is Polyacrylamide.
Polyacrylamide is a linear polymer made from the monomer acrylamide and
is widely used in various industrial and commercial applications due to
its unique properties. Here are some key points about Polyacrylamide:
- Chemical Structure: Polyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer that consists of a long chain of
acrylamide units, which are linked together by amide bonds. - High Molecular Weight: It is available in a range of molecular weights, typically from a few million to tens of millions of Daltons.
- Water Solubility: In its unmodified form, polyacrylamide is highly soluble in water, forming viscous solutions.
- Uses:
- Water Treatment: It is used as a flocculant in water treatment processes to help remove suspended particles from water.
- Oil Recovery: In the oil industry, polyacrylamide is used in enhanced oil recovery processes to improve the flow of oil through reservoirs.
- Paper Manufacturing: It serves as a wet-end additive to improve the strength and quality of paper.
- Textile Industry: Used in the textile industry as a thickener, stabilizer, and finishing agent.
- Mining: Employed as a flocculant in the purification of ores and in the clarification of process water.
- Agriculture: It can be used in soil stabilization to prevent erosion.
- Forms: Polyacrylamide is available in various forms, including dry powder,乳液 (emulsion), and microbeads.
- Safety: While polyacrylamide itself is less toxic, the monomer acrylamide,
which can be a byproduct of its synthesis, is a neurotoxin and a
potential carcinogen. Therefore, products containing polyacrylamide are
regulated to ensure that the residual monomer content is kept to a
minimum. - Environmental Considerations: Due to its ability to absorb and hold water, polyacrylamide can be used
in environmental applications to improve soil structure and water
retention. - Regulation: The use of polyacrylamide is regulated in some applications to control exposure to
the monomer and to ensure it does not enter water systems in significant
quantities.
Polyacrylamide's versatility and effectiveness in a wide range of applications make it
an important polymer in the chemical industry. However, due to the
potential health risks associated with acrylamide, strict safety
measures and regulations are in place for its production and use.