Solenis Clarifloc Alternative: CNfloc Cross-Reference Guide (2026)

ChinaPAM's CNfloc series covers the full Solenis Clarifloc range — cationic C-308 to C-368, anionic A-21 to A-47, and nonionic N-100 — matched by charge density and molecular weight at 30–50% lower FOB cost. This guide provides a direct cross-reference for procurement teams evaluating Clarifloc alternatives.

Solenis (formerly part of Ashland Water Technologies, then Hercules) is a specialty chemicals company with strong market share in paper mill water treatment, industrial WWTP, and municipal sludge dewatering across North America and Europe. Their Clarifloc polymer line is specified in thousands of paper mill and WWTP operating procedures. Solenis also distributes Eka Chemicals and Drew Marine polymer products in some regions, all of which fall within the same ionic-MW cross-reference framework.

Like all polyacrylamide products, Clarifloc performance depends on ionic type, charge density, and molecular weight — not brand name. According to WEF MOP 8, polymer selection for dewatering depends on these three parameters. According to TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry), flocculant selection for paper mill white water treatment and dewatering is validated by jar testing and full-scale trials, not by brand specification. ChinaPAM supplies cationic polyacrylamide and anionic polyacrylamide across the full Clarifloc specification range — available from 500 kg trial with free lab samples.

Decoding Solenis Clarifloc Model Numbers

Clarifloc uses a letter-number naming system encoding ionic type and relative specifications:

• C-series = Cationic PAM powder. Numbers roughly correlate to charge density — C-308 ≈ 10–15% charge, C-368 ≈ 60–70% charge.
• A-series = Anionic PAM powder. A-21 through A-47 span low to high hydrolysis degree.
• N-series = Nonionic PAM. N-100 is the standard grade for acidic circuits.
• WE-series = Liquid emulsion versions (same chemistry, faster dissolution).

For background on charge density selection, see our charge density guide. For molecular weight impact on application performance, see our MW selection guide.

Cationic PAM: CNfloc C-Series vs Clarifloc C-Series

Solenis Clarifloc C-series is heavily specified in paper mill WWTP and food processing sludge dewatering across North America. CNfloc C-series provides matched equivalents:

Most common replacement: Clarifloc C-335 is Solenis's highest-volume grade for municipal sludge dewatering. CNfloc C8033 at 30–40% charge density, very high MW, provides equivalent belt press and centrifuge performance. For full cationic PAM dewatering guidance, see our sludge dewatering guide.

CNfloc cationic polyacrylamide powder — functionally equivalent to Solenis Clarifloc C-series for paper mill and WWTP applications

Anionic PAM: CNfloc A-Series vs Clarifloc A-Series

Solenis Clarifloc A-series is widely used in paper mill white water clarification, industrial effluent treatment, and mineral processing. CNfloc provides direct equivalents:

For paper industry PAM applications, see our paper making PAM guide. For mining applications, see our tailings treatment guide.

Quick Cross-Reference (All Grades)

Frequently Asked Questions

5-Step Switching Protocol: Clarifloc → CNfloc

1. Grade identification — Confirm your current Clarifloc grade from purchase records or SCADA dosing data. Map to CNfloc equivalent using the cross-reference tables above.
2. Sample request — Request 1–2 CNfloc candidates (we recommend testing two adjacent grades). We ship 1 kg DHL lab samples free within 5 business days.
3. Lab screening (jar test) — Run a standardized jar test or belt press simulation on your actual sludge or process water at operating pH and temperature. Compare settling rate, filtrate clarity, optimal dose, and cake solids to your current Clarifloc baseline. See our jar test procedure guide for methodology.
4. Field trial (2–4 weeks) — Run the best-performing CNfloc grade at full plant scale. Track polymer consumption (kg/dry ton or g/m³), cake solids (%), filtrate TSS (mg/L), belt speed, and centrifuge amperage. Most plants complete qualification within 2 weeks.
5. Commercial conversion — If trial performance meets or exceeds Clarifloc baseline, place first commercial order (MOQ 1 MT). No equipment modification required — CNfloc powder uses identical dissolution parameters to Clarifloc powder (0.1–0.5% solution, 30–60 min aging, low-shear mixing).

Paper Mill Applications: Clarifloc vs CNfloc

Solenis built its Clarifloc brand strength primarily in the paper and pulp industry. According to TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry), PAM flocculants are used in four key paper mill applications where CNfloc provides direct equivalents:

• White water clarification — Clarifloc A-38 / A-47 → CNfloc 1030 / 1042. Anionic PAM settles fiber fines and filler particles for DAF or settling pond recovery. Typical dose: 0.5–2 mg/L of white water.
• Sludge dewatering (paper mill WWTP) — Clarifloc C-335 / C-348 → CNfloc C8033 / C8042. Paper mill sludge typically requires 35–50% cationic charge. Belt press or screw press conditioning.
• Retention/drainage aid — While primarily a wet-end additive role, some mills use high-MW anionic PAM (Clarifloc A-25 equivalent → CNfloc 1015) as a retention aid for fines and fillers. Works with microparticle or dual-polymer systems.
• Broke pit flocculation — Clarifloc C-308 → CNfloc C8003. Low-charge cationic PAM for de-inking and broke fiber recovery at neutral pH.

Is Solenis Clarifloc the same product as Ashland Clarifloc?

Yes. Solenis acquired Ashland Water Technologies in 2014, including the Clarifloc polymer line. The model numbers and formulations remain unchanged. Some regions still see distributor invoices with the Ashland brand on legacy packaging, but the chemistry is identical. This means the same CNfloc cross-reference table above applies to both Ashland and Solenis Clarifloc grades.

Can I test CNfloc before committing to a full container order?

Yes. We ship 1 kg DHL lab samples within 5 business days of inquiry — free of charge for qualified buyers. For a jar test trial on your actual sludge or process water, minimum order is 500 kg. This is enough for several weeks of field evaluation at a medium WWTP or paper mill. See our jar test procedure guide for testing methodology.

Does ChinaPAM supply emulsion PAM to replace Clarifloc WE-series?

Currently CNfloc is available in dry powder form. Powder PAM dissolved at 0.1–0.3% solution delivers equivalent performance to inverse emulsion when properly dissolved. For most belt press and centrifuge applications, powder PAM is preferred due to lower unit cost, simpler storage, and longer shelf life. If your dosing system requires liquid emulsion specifically, contact us — we can arrange custom formulations for high-volume accounts.

What quality assurance does ChinaPAM provide?

Every CNfloc batch includes: TDS (charge density, MW class, solid content, dissolution time), COA per batch (residual acrylamide monomer <0.05% for standard grades, <0.01% for food/drinking water grades), SDS, and export documentation. Per AWWA B453 (Standard for Polyacrylamide), the critical acceptance parameters are residual monomer, solid content ≥88%, and ionic charge within specification — all verified on every CNfloc shipment. For drinking water and food-contact applications, NSF/ANSI 60 and EU Regulation 2024/1628 compliance documents are available.

For other major brand cross-references in the same collection: SNF FLOPAM alternatives, Kemira Superfloc alternatives, BASF Zetag / Magnafloc alternatives. For sourcing details, see our China PAM supplier guide. Visit our homepage for full catalog and technical support.