Materials Today Communications 15 (2018) 337–343

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Materials Today Communications

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Effect of heavy molecular weight polymer on quality of drinking water T

⁎
Lawrence C. Edomwonyi-Otu , Daniel O. Adelakun
Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. 810221

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: The transport of fluids in pipes results in huge energy losses due to pressure drop. In addition, it has been
Drag reducing polymer established that the use of minute quantities of heavy molecular weight polymers leads to substantial reduction
Health in the occurring frictional pressure drop in pipelines. Up to 80% reduction in pressure drop for water flows have
Turbidity been reported. These materials have been known to insignificantly affect the physicochemical and rheological
Parameters
properties of their host solvents. However, the use of drag reducing polymer and its effect on the quality of
Quality standard
Drinking water
drinking water has not been well reported. In this work, the detailed study of the effect of addition varying
concentrations of a drag reducing polymer (DRP) (Magnafloc 1011; hydrolysed copolymer of polyacrylamide
and sodium acrylate, Mol. Wt.: 10 × 106 g/mol.) in treated water samples was carried out. The physicochemical
parameters such as pH, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved
solid, total hardness, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, temperature and turbidity were determined after in-
jecting concentrations of 5 ppm, 10 ppm, 20 ppm and 50 ppm of the DRP. The samples with the polymer was left
over ten days while the parameters were measured at intervals. The results were compared with the World
Health Organisation water quality standards in order to note the deviations and carefully consider the health
effects on the consumers at large. The results showed that the DRP could also serve as a coagulating agent for
water treatment. It was observed that the tested parameters were within the limit of the water quality standards
for all the days investigated. The result also showed an optimum concentration of 10 ppm of the DRP and that
the water is safe for drinking even after 10 days. The result is promising and thus encouraging the use of this
technology in transporting our drinking water with the attendant reduction in operational cost.

1. Introduction from high molecular weight polymers or micellar systems [8].

Pipelines are a predominant part in any chemical industry and finds
application in most engineering operations. It is an essential component
to transport fluids, liquid and gas over long distances. It finds appli-
cation in water treatment plants, petroleum industries etc. [1,2]. In
fluid flow, resistance encountered by flowing fluid touching the pipe
wall is due to the frictional pressure drop. Adding certain polymeric
substances to fluids during flow in pipes shows large reductions in
frictional drag and pumping requirements [3–5]. This phenomenon is
known as drag reduction [6,7]).
Drag Reducing Agents (DRA) also known as flow improvers are
additives which are injected into pipeline fluids to reduce turbulence
and allow fluids to flow more efficiently. The associated reduction in
frictional pressure drop provides significant benefits to pipeline
throughput. It allows operation at reduced pressure drop conditions,
savings in pumping power, and reduction in pipeline insulation costs
[5]. DRA (s) can be broadly classified under polymers, solid-particle
suspensions, biological additives and surfactants which are produced
Water constitutes two-third (65%) of the human body and all its
cells, tissues, and organs uses water to regulate the bodily functions
ranging from digestion, waste removal and tissue protection among
others. There are also several water borne diseases that can compromise
our wellbeing when ingested. Hence, a critical look at the qualities of
drinking water and the factors affecting it is imperative. Safe drinking
water needs to be clear, colourless, odourless, tasteless among other
qualities [9,10].
The clarity of water does not guarantee its safety for consumption.
Drinking water fit for human consumption must meet the World Health
Organisation (WHO) standard. It should be void of chemical and phy-
sical substances and micro-organisms that can be dangerous to health.
The standards for drinking water describes the parameters set for
quality of drinking water [11]. Accordingly, water treatment is any
process that makes water more acceptable for a specific end-use
[12,13]. A water treatment and distribution system involves usage of
pipelines to transport water over long distances. The use of drag re-
ducing polymers (DRPs) could prove useful in enhancing the

⁎
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: uceclce@ucl.ac.uk (L.C. Edomwonyi-Otu).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2018.04.004
Received 24 February 2018; Received in revised form 4 April 2018; Accepted 5 April 2018
Available online 11 April 2018
2352-4928/ © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
L.C. Edomwonyi-Otu, D.O. Adelakun
Fig. 1. Effect of DRP on turbidity of water from AWB.
throughput and reducing the pumping requirements of the water line.
Edomwonyi-Otu and Angeli [5] and Edomwonyi-Otu et al. [14], re-
ported that use of 20 ppm of hydrolysed polyacrylamide in water re-
sulted in over 80% drag reduction. It is also known that addition of
these polymeric materials in small quantities has no significant effect on
the physico-chemical and rheological properties of the solvents [5,11].
The use of DRPs in the petroleum industry for fluid transportation is
common with high savings in pumping cost. The effect of this addition
on the quality of drinking water has however not been investigated.
The addition of DRP in water pipelines will increase water supply
throughput and reduce pumping requirements and cost. Although DRPs
have been used in district heating and cooling systems [7,15], there is
no known report of its effect in drinking water quality in terms of
changes in its physicochemical properties when DRP is added. This
report is aimed at showing the result of a systematic study of the effect
of the addition of different concentrations of solution of hydrolysed
polyacrylamide (HPAM) on the physicochemical parameters of drinking
water. Some of the physicochemical properties tested include turbidity,
biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH,
total hardness and electrical conductivity among others. The result will
be compared with drinking water standards as provided by the World
Health Organization (WHO) and other drinking water standards used in
Nigeria. It is hoped that the result from this study will encourage the
use of DRPs in the transportation of drinking water and will be a major
technological advancement for the water industry in Africa and beyond.
2. Materials and methods
The polymer used in this study is a very high molecular weight
(10 × 106 g/mol.) anionic polyacrylamide (magnafloc 1011) produced
by BASF Chemicals and it was used as received without further pur-
ification. 1000 ppm stock solution of the polymer was prepared fol-
lowing procedures given by Edomwonyi-Otu [6]. Smaller polymer so-
lution concentrations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 ppm was further prepared
from the stock solution by dilution.
Fig. 2. Effect of DRP on turbidity of water from KSWB.
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Materials Today Communications 15 (2018) 337–343
Drinking water samples were obtained from the Ahmadu Bello
University Water Board (AWB) and Kaduna State Water Board (KSWB)
and kept in clean sterile containers to avoid contamination. Their
physicochemical properties were thereafter determined and recorded
over a period of ten (10) days for the fresh water samples and after the
addition of polymer solutions of 5 ppm, 10 ppm, 20 ppm, 50 ppm. The
optimal polymer concentrations of 20 to 50 ppm have been established
for water flows in pipes [14]. A dissolved oxygen (DO) meter (Lutron
D0-5509) was used to measure the DO in the water sample, alongside
the biological oxygen demand (BOD) incubator (Spectralab Model
2025 M), the BOD was determined after day-5 and day-10. The pH,
turbidity, Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS),
Total Hardness, and alkalinity were measured using pH meter (Jenway
3510), turbidity meter (Hach 2100AN), conductivity meter (model
1152), total hardness meter (Hanna HI96736), and alkalinity meter
(Hanna HI775) respectively. The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in-
cubator was used for the COD measurements. Standard laboratory
techniques and procedures set by Department of Water Resources and
Environmental Engineering and Department of Chemical Engineering
Ahmadu Belo University (ABU) Zaria were strictly followed to ensure
accuracy and safety. Each of the parameters were measured thrice and
the average value recorded.
3. Results and discussion
After carefully carrying out the experimental procedures to de-
termine the effect of the drag reducing agent (magnafloc) on the quality
of drinking water when added to AWB and KSWB drinking water
sample. The following results of their physico-chemical properties were
obtained.
3.1. Effect on turbidity
The turbidity of the water samples is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It is
observed that addition of the polymer solution in the water samples
L.C. Edomwonyi-Otu, D.O. Adelakun
over a period of ten days resulted in less turbid water. Increasing
concentration of HPAM in the water samples doesn’t cause any change
as turbidity remained at equilibrium. This change in turbidity on ad-
dition of partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide (HPAM) is attributed to
the clarification ability of the polymer which has been demonstrated in
other researches where its benefits for erosion control and soil prop-
erties have been well documented [16–18], but there is little informa-
tion on the interactions between HPAM properties and that of the water
samples. The polymer dissociates completely in the water with time
(days) with improved interaction resulting in more effective reduction
of the turbidity of both water samples. As can be observed for both
water samples, after Day 5, there is no remarkable change in the tur-
bidity of the water suggesting that the dissociation/dissolution of the
polymer in water is complete with maximum interaction attained.
HPAM has also been used as a flocculant (CIBA Chemicals, UK) and the
resulting water is suitable for drinking and conforms to the quality
drinking water standard of < 5 NTU [19].
3.2. Effect on pH
It is observed that there is no change in the pH after the addition of
the polymer in both water samples as concentration of HPAM increased
even with increasing number of days as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 for both
water samples. This is an important observation since this is one of the
key properties in determining water quality. The result also shows that
the pH of water used within Kaduna and the Ahmadu Bello University
communities fall within quality drinking water standard of 6.5–8.5
(WHO). It also implies that the use of DRP in transporting drinking
water will not result in enhanced corrosion of the pipeline since the
alkalinity/acidity is not affected [20].
3.3. Effect on electrical conductivity (EC)
The results obtained for electrical conductivity of the water samples
as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. It can be observed that for both water
samples that no change in electrical conductivity with increasing
polymer concentration except after 10 days. This gradual increase in
the conductivity of the water samples is as a result of the substitution of
the sodium formate functional unit in the polyacrylamide molecule to
allow aqueous dissociation of Na+ to release positively charged sodium
ions present in the polymer as it hydrolysis which increases the con-
ductivity of the water considerably [21]. Generally, at all concentra-
tions and for all days, the electrical conductivity of the water samples
falls within the standard limit for quality drinking water. The results
obtained is within acceptable standard for quality drinking water which
is 1000 μs at 25 °C [19].
3.4. Effect on total dissolved solids (TDS)
Figs. 7 and 8 shows the results obtained for the amount of total
Fig. 3. Effect of DRP on pH of water from AWB.
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Materials Today Communications 15 (2018) 337–343
dissolved solids in the water samples before and after the addition of
different polymer concentrations. It can be observed that there is
minimal increase in the amount of total dissolved solids present in the
water samples upon addition of the polymer at different concentrations
with increasing number of days. Upon addition of the polymer in the
water samples, the TDS remained at equilibrium until after day 03. The
steady increase observed from day 05 in the amount of TDS can be
related to the sum of cations and anions in the water from the ionization
of the polymer added. The polymer contains sodium acrylate and
polyacrylamide with the resultant carboxylic anions completely neu-
tralized by the sodium cation. This may also explain why there is no
change in the measured pH already explained. Therefore, addition of
HPAM in drinking water has insignificant effect on the TDS of the water
sample. Generally, at all concentrations at several days, the amount of
TDS in the water samples falls within the standard limit for quality
drinking water which is 500 mg/l [19].
3.5. Effect on dissolved oxygen (DO)
Figs. 9 and 10, shows the effect of addition of different concentra-
tions of the DRP on the dissolved oxygen (DO) of the two water sam-
ples. It can be observed that the addition of the polymer has no effect on
the DO level of the water samples at all concentrations and for all days
investigated. It implies that the addition of the DRP does not affect the
oxygen equilibrium in the water, making it safe for drinking. The result
also implies that the integrity of the pipe is retained as an increase in
DO will enhance the corrosion of the pipes [22]. The acceptable DO
standard for quality drinking water is < 5.0 mg/l [23].
3.6. Effect on total hardness
The total hardness of the two water samples did not change even
with increasing concentration throughout the entire 10-day period, as
shown in Figs. 11 and 12.
This implies that the presence of the polymer in the water samples
has no effect on the hardness of the drinking water samples since they
are all within acceptable limits for quality drinking water; < 60 mg/l
for soft water; 60–120 mg/l for moderately hard water; 120–180 mg/l
for hard water [23]. However, the effect of such heavy molecular
weight polymers on the total hardness of treated waste water is well
reported [24].
3.7. Effect on biological oxygen demand (BOD)
The BOD of the water samples can be obtained only after every five
days by taking the difference between the initial DO of day-1 and DO of
day-5, and the difference between DO of day-5 and day-10. The values
obtained for several concentrations of the water samples are shown in
Figs. 13 and 14.
Figs. 13 and 14 shows that the BOD values of both water samples
L.C. Edomwonyi-Otu, D.O. Adelakun Materials Today Communications 15 (2018) 337–343

Fig. 4. Effect of DRP on pH of water from KSWB.

Fig. 5. Effect of DRP on electrical conductivity of water from AWB.

Fig. 6. Effect of DRP on electrical conductivity of water from KSWB.

Fig. 7. Effect of DRP on total dissolved solids of water from AWB.

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L.C. Edomwonyi-Otu, D.O. Adelakun Materials Today Communications 15 (2018) 337–343

Fig. 8. Effect of DRP on total dissolved solids of water from KSWB.

Fig. 9. Effect of DRP on dissolved oxygen of water from AWB.

Fig. 10. Effect of DRP on dissolved oxygen of water from KSWB.

Fig. 11. Effect of DRP on total hardness of water from AWB.

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L.C. Edomwonyi-Otu, D.O. Adelakun Materials Today Communications 15 (2018) 337–343

Fig. 12. Effect of DRP on total hardness of water from KSWB.

Fig. 13. BOD deviation plot of pure AWB and polymer added AWB.

Fig. 14. BOD deviation plot of pure KSWB and polymer added KSWB.

Fig. 15. COD deviation plot of pure AWB and polymer added AWB.

are at equilibrium i.e. the amount of BOD remained constant even with
increasing concentrations of HPAM and number of days. This equili-
brium observed for BOD is due to the fact that the DO level of both
water samples remained constant since BOD is a direct measure of DO
needed in water [21] as earlier discussed. In addition, the BOD values
obtained for both water samples are within the acceptable limit for
drinking water which usually should be between 1 mg/l and 5 mg/l
[23].

342
L.C. Edomwonyi-Otu, D.O. Adelakun
Fig. 16. COD deviation plot of pure KSWB and polymer added KSWB.
3.8. Effect on chemical oxygen demand (COD)
It can be observed from Figs. 15 and 16 that there are no significant
changes in COD of the water samples with increased DRP concentration
and for all days tested. Therefore, the addition of HPAM in the drinking
water samples has no effect on its chemical oxygen demand. It is ob-
served that the COD values of both water samples are within the range
of 0 mg/l and 6.4 mg/l, although, there is no maximum acceptable limit
set for drinking water but it is specified not to exceed 3.0 times the BOD
value. i.e. average ratios of 2–3 mg/l COD to 1 mg/l BOD is to be ex-
pected [20].
4. Conclusion
The effect of drag reducing polymer addition to drinking water from
Ahmadu Bello University and Kaduna State Water Board has been in-
vestigated. From the results, it can be concluded that the addition of
partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide in concentration up to 50 ppm has
no effect on the quality of drinking water. The resultant solution pos-
sesses properties which fall within the limit for acceptable and quality
drinking water. The result also shows the reduction in turbidity which
is a reflection of the coagulation capability of the tested polymer. These
implies that DRP can be used in transporting drinking water to con-
sumption points with enhanced throughputs resulting in more efficient
and flexible operations.
5. Recommendations
• The effect of DRP on the quality of drinking water should be in-
vestigated with natural DRP’s.
• The optimal concentration of DRP in addition to drinking water can
be set at 10 ppm, as differences are observed to be very minimal for
all physico-chemical parameters at this concentration with sig-
nificant drag reduction reported.
• Application of polymer for the transportation of drinking water from
source to sink should be encouraged because of the attendant ben-
efit in cost reduction.
Acknowledgements
The Authors thank the staff of the Kaduna State Water Board,
Ahmadu bello University Water works and Department of Chemical
Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for their support and
provision of testing equipment and materials for this study.
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Further reading
CAWST, Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology, Introduction to drinking
water quality testing (2009th ed.), 12, 2916, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 2009.