Precision Analytical, Inc. manufactures PrecisionFloc, a chitosan-based, biodegradable cationic polymer for use as a coagulant or flocculant in water treatment applications.

This material is approved for the treatment of construction-site runoff. It is used extensively in California, Oregon and Washington for the protection and remediation of natural streams polluted by stormwater runoff. Chitosan is also classified as a biological treatment for stormwater application in some states in the Great Lakes region, and several municipalities in Canada have specified that chitosan is the only flocculant that can be used for stormwater applications.

Chitosan is made from chitin, which is a naturally occurring biopolymer derived from recycled crustacean shells. It is the second most abundant natural polymer, second only to cellulose. The raw material is harvested from aquiculture operations (mainly shrimp and crawfish), and is recycled from seafood processing operations. Because it is a natural and sustainable material, it has much less impact on the environment than petrochemical-based synthetic polymers.

Also, because it is a sustainable material, it can contribute to LEED® credits in the categories of recyclable and rapidly renewable materials.

PrecisionFloc has much lower aquatic toxicity than synthetic cationic polymers. Sludge residuals from clarifiers are non-hazardous and, because of high organic nitrogen content, have good fertilizer potential. It can be mixed into soil and will biodegrade in a matter of weeks, compared with synthetic polymers which biodegrade over a number of years.

PrecisionFloc is delivered as a 2% viscous solution in 250-gallon totes. Samples of 100 milliliters are available free of charge for jar testing.