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The Use of flocculants in water treatment

Author: Maggie MA
by Maggie MA
Posted: Sep 29, 2021

Water purification methods come in many forms and stages, depending on various factors such as budget constraints, environmental concerns, and usage. However, every water treatment system has one constant: adding chemicals to treat the water Coagulants and flocculants, such as polyacrylamide pam. Coagulants are particularly useful for removing debris from wastewater, as they are efficient and economical. The flocculation process is one of the basic and most important steps in the water treatment process.

What are flocculants

Flocculants are materials that help by promoting the build-up of fine particles in the water that create a flake, floating on the surface or settling to the bottom. This facilitates the removal of these particles from the water. Flocculants are inorganic or organic and come in many forms, molecular weights, charge densities, and fillers. Organic polymeric flocculants PAM are widely used today due to their ability to promote flocculation at low doses.Biopolymers are also popular because they are more environmentally friendly but require a higher dosage and have a shorter shelf life.

What is the process of flocculation

Flocculation is the process of purifying water to remove contaminants from the water. It is the most common process for treating wastewater, rainwater and drinking water, making it clean and disinfected before use. The process of flocculation involves separating the solution from the sediment and debris mixed with it. The word comes from "floc", which means flakes of matter. When the water is flocculated, the sediments have become flakes of larger aggregates, making them easier to spot and remove in the next step. This process can occur naturally or it can be forced using physical and / or flocculation methods. One of the main requirements for treating water from any resource is removing suspended solids.

Tiny particles can impact the color of water and carry with them multiple impurities in natural water sources, such as oceans and rivers.It is also essential to limit the phosphorus content of the wastewater because the phosphorus is released into the river, promotes the growth of algae. The uncontrolled release of phosphorus has been found to significantly affect the health and life of fish and other aquatic species. Due to the applications of some industries, a large amount of phosphorus is released to wastewater, which requires pre-treatment of the water before it is released to wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, the flocculation process is crucial to remove these impurities.

Flocculants are used in many industries, including biotechnology, earth sciences, and civil engineering. However, their main use is in water treatment plants for dewatering solids, thickening sludge, softening lime, clarifying water and removing solids. Water can contain colloidal solids, such as decaying plant material, plankton, bacteria, clay particles, and other materials. Using the flocculation and coagulation process to disinfect and purify water is an age-old practice, but the technologies have now been updated. Flocculation followed by sedimentation are steps used in various water treatment systems, including industrial wastewater, stormwater, wastewater and drinking water treatments.Modes of Action of Flocculants In the process of coagulation and flocculation, positively charged chemicals are included in the water to help neutralize negative charges. These negative charges are typically retained by solids, including dissolved organics, clay, and dirt particles in a stable solution and aggregate them.

Once the charge is neutralized, larger particles are created with the added chemical. After the coagulation process, flocculation occurs. They create suspended particles called flakes. The flakes continually increase in size due to the additional mixing and eventually reach the right strength and size to prepare for the next step. These flakes float to the surface for disposal or fall to the bottom of the container as they settle. The correct combination of coagulants and inorganic or organic flocculants depends on the substances to be removed from the water and the separation methods used in the treatment plant.

Steps involved in the flocculation process Flocculation is carried out by a chemical procedure that involves chemicals in the wastewater to allow small particles and debris to accumulate and combine to form a large mass known as a flake.

About the Author

Trichloroisocyanuric acid effervescent tablets are a highly effective, low-toxic, broad-spectrum, rapid disinfectant that has been widely promoted internationally.

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Author: Maggie MA

Maggie MA

Member since: Dec 08, 2020
Published articles: 16

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