SNF FLOPAM Equivalent CNfloc Guide

SNF publishes charge density and molecular weight descriptors for every grade in its FLOPAM powder catalogue, which makes a real cross-reference possible. This guide maps our range against that published data grade by grade, including the grades where we have no close counterpart. This cross-reference guide identifies CNfloc equivalents for each FLOPAM grade so you can shortlist 2–3 candidates for jar testing before a full switch.

SNF FLOPAM is the most-specified polyacrylamide brand in municipal and mining applications globally. According to Grand View Research (2024), SNF holds approximately 38% of global PAM market share. Many operators specify FLOPAM by model number — FO 4490 for belt press, AN 934 for thickeners — but the actual performance depends on charge density and molecular weight, not the brand label. When those two parameters match, the flocculation mechanism is identical regardless of manufacturer.

A polyacrylamide cross-reference is the process of matching a branded flocculant grade to an equivalent product from another manufacturer based on ionic type, charge density (mol%), and molecular weight (Daltons), enabling direct substitution without system redesign. According to WEF (Water Environment Federation), polymer selection depends on these three parameters — not brand origin.

In substitution work, the safest approach is to shortlist CNfloc grades by ionic type, charge density, and molecular weight, then confirm performance by jar testing on the buyer's actual water, sludge, or slurry. Direct swaps are most likely to work when charge density and molecular weight stay close to the original FLOPAM grade.

How FLOPAM Model Numbers Encode Specifications

FLOPAM grade names carry real information, but not in the way most cross-reference tables assume. SNF’s own powder catalogue lists every grade against two published descriptors, charge density and molecular weight, and once you line those up a clear rule emerges: the number encodes charge density, while molecular weight is carried by the suffix.

• AN series = anionic PAM. The digits track charge density: AN 905 is listed as very low, AN 910 and AN 913 as low, AN 923 / 926 / 934 as medium, AN 945 / 956 / 970 as high, and AN 977 as very high.
• Suffix carries molecular weight, from highest to lowest: VHM (ultra high), SH / SD / SHD (very high), HD (high), no suffix (standard), MPM (medium), BPM (low), VLM (very low).
• FO series = cationic PAM. The leading digit identifies the series (4 for FO 4000, 8 for FO 8000) and the middle digits track cationic charge. Molecular weight again sits in the suffix. A fourth digit of 8, as in FO 4358 or FO 4698, marks a structured or crosslinked grade.
• FA series = nonionic PAM, near-zero ionic charge, bridging mechanism only.

The practical consequence is the single most common error in FLOPAM substitution. AN 934 is not one product. SNF lists it in BPM, MPM, standard, HD, SH and VHM versions, all sharing the same medium charge density while molecular weight spans from low to ultra high. A bag marked simply “AN 934” is the standard molecular weight grade, not the highest one. If you quote a cross-reference against the number alone, you can be several molecular weight tiers away from what the plant is actually running.

Charge density in the FO range is also not strictly derivable from the digits once suffixes enter. SNF lists FO 4440 and FO 4440 SH at medium charge, but FO 4440 SSH at high charge. For that reason every mapping below is taken grade by grade from the published catalogue rather than calculated from the model number. For background on why these two parameters drive flocculation behaviour, see our charge density guide and our molecular weight selection guide.

Cationic PAM: CNfloc C-Series vs FLOPAM FO

Cationic polyacrylamide is the standard polymer for organic sludge dewatering: municipal belt presses and centrifuges, paper mill wastewater, and food processing effluent. The table below maps FLOPAM FO grades to our CNfloc C-series using SNF’s published descriptors on one side and ours on the other. Both scales are in-house scales, so they are not interchangeable units; the pairing tells you which grade to start a trial with, not that two products are identical.

Where a grade you use is missing from this table, it usually means the charge and molecular weight combination has no close counterpart in our current range. We would rather tell you that than push an approximate substitute. Send us the exact grade name including suffix and we will say plainly whether we can match it.

Anionic PAM: CNfloc 1000-Series vs FLOPAM AN

Anionic PAM handles mineral slurries, tailings, coal washing water and raw water clarification. This is also where the suffix problem bites hardest, because the AN 934 number alone spans six molecular weight tiers. Each row below is tied to a specific full grade name, suffix included.

Several of our anionic grades in this table sit in our oilfield line. That does not restrict them to enhanced oil recovery: frac flowback and produced water flocculation and dewatering are water treatment duties, and these grades are supplied for exactly that work alongside mineral processing.

Nonionic PAM: CNfloc 1003 and 1042 vs FLOPAM FA

Nonionic polyacrylamide works through polymer bridging without electrostatic interaction, which makes it the right choice for acidic systems, low-conductivity water, and streams where dissolved salts would destabilise a charged polymer floc. Our nonionic grades are CNfloc 1003 and CNfloc 1042, both published as low charge and low molecular weight on our scale.

We are not publishing a grade-level mapping against the FLOPAM FA series here. SNF’s powder catalogue that we work from covers the AN and FO ranges in grade-by-grade detail, and we would rather leave the nonionic cross-reference open than infer one. If you are running a specific FA grade, send us the full name and the duty and we will advise directly.

Oilfield Grades: CNfloc K and 635 Series

Partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide for oilfield service overlaps the anionic specification range but carries extra qualification requirements: salt tolerance in high-salinity brine, thermal stability, and controlled hydrolysis. Our oilfield line covers this work.

Worth stating clearly, because it is often misread: these grades are not limited to enhanced oil recovery. Frac flowback and produced water flocculation and dewatering are water treatment duties, and that is a large part of what this line is supplied for. If you are treating flowback water rather than injecting polymer, these are still the grades to ask about. See our slickwater friction reducer guide and oil drilling guide for the surrounding context.

5-Step Substitution Validation Protocol

A cross-reference table gets you to candidate grades. Lab and field testing confirm performance equivalence. This is the validation protocol we provide to every customer switching from FLOPAM:

1. Shortlist from this table: Select 2–3 CNfloc grades that bracket your current FLOPAM charge density ±5%.
2. Jar test / beaker test: Prepare 0.1–0.2% solution using same protocol as FLOPAM. Compare floc size, settling rate, and supernatant turbidity at identical dose points.
3. Sludge dewatering test: Buchner funnel or CST test. Target: cake moisture within ±2% and filtrate within ±5 NTU of FLOPAM baseline.
4. Mining settling test: 500 mL cylinder at 3 dose levels (80%, 100%, 120% of current FLOPAM dose). Measure settling velocity, compression height, overflow NTU.
5. Field trial at 110% dose: Run conservative dose for first week. Adjust down once steady-state confirms. Most operators converge to FLOPAM-equivalent dose within 2 weeks.

Settling cylinder test: dark solids settle to bottom with clear supernatant — the standard field validation for FLOPAM-to-CNfloc substitution

We supply a free cross-reference sample kit: 500 g each of 2–3 candidate grades for direct side-by-side jar testing. Contact us with your current FLOPAM grade number and application — we will identify the best CNfloc match.

Custom Manufacturing Based on Your TDS

If your current FLOPAM grade falls between standard CNfloc specifications — or your process requires non-standard charge density, molecular weight, or dissolution rate — we offer custom manufacturing based on your TDS (Technical Data Sheet). Send us the TDS of your current product, and our R&D team will formulate a grade that matches your exact specifications. Custom batches start at 2 MT with 15–20 days production lead time. This is particularly useful for operators with highly optimized systems where even ±3% charge deviation affects performance.

Quick Reference: FLOPAM to CNfloc Mappings

The full list, including the grades where we do not have a close counterpart. We publish those as well rather than filling the gap with an approximate answer, because an approximate flocculant match costs a plant real money in re-trials.

Two reminders when reading this table. First, a grade name without a suffix is the standard molecular weight version; if your bags carry SH, VHM, HD, MPM or BPM, quote it to us because it changes the answer. Second, the descriptors on each side come from different in-house scales, so treat every row as a starting point for a jar or CST test rather than a guarantee of identical behaviour.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from FLOPAM to CNfloc without changing my dosing equipment?

Yes. Dissolution and dosing equipment is identical — same aging tanks, same mixers, same metering pumps. The only requirement is to flush the system with clean water before switching to prevent residual polymer interaction. Allow 2–3 system volumes of flush water between polymer types.

What quality documents does ChinaPAM provide for CNfloc products?

TDS, COA, and SDS documents are available by confirmed grade and batch. Solid content is ≥90%, and residual acrylamide monomer targets are confirmed on the batch COA. Regulated-use PAM requires document review before quotation. Every batch ships with Certificate of Analysis including charge density, molecular weight, solid content, and dissolution time.

What is the MOQ for a CNfloc trial to replace FLOPAM?

500 kg minimum for trial orders — enough for jar testing plus 2–4 weeks of field trial at a medium WWTP or mining thickener. Standard commercial MOQ is 1 MT per grade. We accept mixed-grade pallets in a single container for customers evaluating multiple FLOPAM replacements simultaneously.

How long does delivery take from ChinaPAM?

7–10 days production lead time plus 18–25 days sea freight to most destinations. Total 25–35 days order-to-delivery. High-runner grades (C8033, C8042, 1030, 1032) are stocked for same-week dispatch. Compare this to 4–8 week lead times from SNF European production for non-standard grades.

Is FLOPAM AN 934 the most common grade customers replace?

Yes, with one important qualification. AN 934 is the best known number in the FLOPAM anionic range and SNF lists it at medium charge density, but the number covers six molecular weight tiers from BPM through VHM. For AN 934 SH we would put forward CNfloc 1054, and for AN 934 VHM we would put forward CNfloc 1054V. Tell us which suffix you run, or send a photo of the bag label, and request both grades for parallel settling cylinder tests since ore mineralogy and particle size distribution usually decide which one wins.

For a broader comparison of PAM manufacturers including SNF, BASF, and Kemira, see our top 10 PAM manufacturers ranking. If you run BASF Zetag or Magnafloc grades or Solenis Clarifloc, we publish dedicated cross-reference guides for those brands too. For general China PAM sourcing guidance including pricing and logistics, see the supplier guide. If you need help with dissolution procedures for these products, check our PAM dissolving method guide. For storage and shelf life considerations when stocking replacement inventory, see our shelf life and storage guide. Visit our homepage for full product catalog and technical support.