Water treatment / Water Technology

Removing all types of impurities and making fit for domestic (or) industrial
purpose

Types of Impurities in water

Physical impurities
Chemical
(a)Suspended impurities Bacterial
impurities
(a)Dissolved salts impurities
(b) Colloidal
(b)Dissolved gases
impurities
 WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS

Colour

It is due to the presence of organic or inorganic materials

Source: Algae, organic dyes ,

inorganic dyes from industries

Removal Methods: Adsorption, Filtration, Settling

Taste & Odours

Taste is the sensation of flavor perceived in the mouth and throat
Sources:
Organic source: Algae, decaying vegetation Inorganic
Source: Mercaptans, amines & Sulphides

Removal Methods: Aeration, Chlorination, Activated

Carbon treatment
Turbidity and Sediments

reduction of clarity of water due to the presence of

impurities suspended in water

Sources: Clay, silt , silica

Removal Methods: Coagulation, Settling, Filtration.

pH

pH= -log[H+]
Ph of less than 7 indicates acidity,
pH of greater than 7 indicates a basicity
7 is the neutral
Alkalinity
Alkalinity of water is mainly caused by the
presence of
1. hydroxide ions (OH−),
2. bicarbonate ions (HCO3−), and
3. carbonate ions (CO32−)
harmful for aquatic organisms
causes caustic embrittlement

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

TDS stands for total dissolved solids

made up of inorganic salts such as calcium,

magnesium, chlorides, sulfates, bicarbonates
TDS impacts the salinity of water
TDS impacts the colour , odour and taste.
Fluoride

found in ground water as a result of dissolution of geological

formulations
Sources:
Fluoride containing minerals ----Fluorapatite ( Ca10F2(PO4)6)
----Cryolite (Na3AlF6)

metallic compound and forms number of poisonous compounds

Arsenic

 preventing tooth decay, particularly in children

 removed by adsorption on activated charcoal.

Source: Natural deposits from mining and industries

leads to skin cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney.

Greater risk found in children.

Biological Oxygen Demand (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) (BOD)

BOD is the amount of oxygen used by microorganisms

(bacteria, yeasts and plankton) for the oxidation of
organic matter.
The standard measurement is performed at 20°C for 5
days and is called BOD5.

In general terms, the greater the pollution, the higher the

BOD

Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)

COD is the amount of oxygen required for the

oxidation of all the oxidizable impurities
present in the water by K2Cr2O7 in acidic medium
This test only takes about 2 hours much less time
compared to BOD test.
The greater the pollution, the higher the COD.
COD measures all organic and inorganic material
 MUNICIPAL WATER TREATMENT
1) Municipal water is used for drinking and other domestic purposes
2) This water may contain impurities and pathogenic bacteria.
3) For removing various impurities using the following treatments

1. Screening – Removing floatig mateial

2. Aeration – Removing gases and volatile gases
3. Sedimentation – Removing suspended materials
4. Coagulation- Adding coagulants like alum, Al2 (SO4 )3
5. Filtration – Using filter beds
6. Sterilization (or) Disinfection – To destroyed
bacterias
Filtration
 removal of colour, taste, odour and
bacteria by passing the water through
filter bed

filter bed containing fine sand,

coarse sand, fine gravel and coarse
gravel.
 Sterilization (or) Disinfection
The process by which harmful bacterias are destroyed to
make the water safe for drinking is called disinfection.

The chemicals used for the sterilization process are called

sterilizers or disinfectants.

Different Sterilization Methods

Ultraviolet process
Ozone treatment
Chlorination
 Ultraviolet process
• In this process UV light from mercury vapour lamp is
passed on the water
• UV light effectively destroys the micro-organisms
• useful for sterilizing water in swimming pools

• Advantages Disadvantages
[Link] requirement of any chemical. 1. Cost is very high
[Link] operative method. 2. It should be handled

carefully.
 Ozone treatment
• Ozone (O3) is a gas and a powerful disinfectant.
• It readily reacts with water and forms nascent
(or) atomic oxygen.
• This nascent oxygen destroys biological
impurities like bacteria.
O3 O2 + [O]
Ozone Nascent Oxygen

[O] + Bacteria Bacterias killed

 CHLORINATION

• adding chlorine to water in order to kill the

bacteria and viruses and to make the water
safe for drinking is called chlorination.
• It can be done by the following methods :

 By adding chlorine gas

 By addition of chloramines
 By adding beaching powder
 By adding chlorine gas
• Process : Chlorine gas can be bubbled in the water.
Cl2 + H2O HCl + HOCl
HOCl + Bacteria Bacterias killed
• Advantages

Chlorination is effective & economical.

Disadvantages

If excess chlorine is used, it produces unpleasant odour.

 By addition of chloramines
• Process : Chloramine is prepared by mixing
chlorine and ammonia in the ratio 2 :1

Cl2 + NH3 ClNH2 + HCl

ClNH2 + H2O NH3 + HOCl

• Advantages
– It does not produce irritating odour.
– It is a better disinfectant than chlorine gas.
 By adding beaching powder

• Bleaching powder is calcium oxychloride

(CaOCl2). When it is added to water, it
produces hypochlorous acid (HOCl); which
acts as a sterilizing agent.
CaOCl2 + H2O Ca(OH)2 + Cl2
Cl2 + H2O HOCl + HCl
Hypochlorous acid

HOCl + Bacterias Bacterias killed

 BREAK POINT CHLORINATION

• Water contains the following impurities

(i) Reducing compounds (ii) Organic compounds (iii)
Ammonia (iv) Bacterias.

• Definition : It is a point where all the impurities

present in the water such as reducing compounds,
organic compounds and ammonia are oxidised by
chlorine and the chlorine added further acts as a
disinfectant to kill the pathogens.
BREAK POINT CHLORINATION
OA : Initially applied chlorine gas is utilized for the oxidation of
reducing substances present in the water. So initially there is no
Cl2 gas available for disinfection.
AB : Here the applied chlorine reacts with the organic
compounds and ammonia present in the water and there is
formation of chloro organic compounds and chloramines. The
residual chlorine concentration increases.
BC : At this point the decomposition of the organic chloro
compounds and chloramines occurs till point “C”.
C : Break point chlorination
At this point, all the reducing, substances, organic impurities
and ammonia are oxidised and the residual chlorine acts as a
disinfectant to destroy the pathogens.
CD : Here, free residual chlorine gas is available and it is
involved in sterilization.
 DESALINATION OF BRACKISH WATER

• Brackish water : Water containing high

concentrations of dissolved solids is known as
brackish water.
• Example : Water present near the sea. It contains
3.5% of dissolved salts.
• Salinity of water is expressed in ppm (or) mg/L.
• Fresh water : It has less than 1000 ppm of dissolved
solids.
• Brackish water : It has greater than 1000 ppm and
less than 35,000 ppm of dissolved solids.
• Sea water : It has greater than 35000 ppm of
dissolved solids.
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
 BOILER TROUBLES

Boiler Troubles / Disadvantages of using

hard water in boilers
Usage of hard water in boilers may cause.
 Scale and Sludge formation
 Boiler Corrosion
 Caustic Embrittlement
 Priming and Foaming
 Scale

 They are hard adherent coating on the inner

surface of the boiler.
 Scales are formed by substances like
Ca(HCO3)2, CaSO4 and Mg(OH)2.
 Sludge

If the precipitate formed within the boiler is

soft and loose it is called sludge.
Sludges are formed by substances like MgCl2,
MgSO4, CaCl2 and MgCO3
Caustic Embrittlement (Inter-crystalline
Cracking)
• It is a type of boiler corrosion caused by the use
of alkaline water
• Boiler water generally contains a small amount of
Na2CO3. When it is used in high pressure boilers it
decomposes to give NaOH & CO2.
• Na2CO3 + H2O 2NaOH + CO2
• Fe + 2NaOH Na2FeO2 + H2­
sodium ferroate

• This causes embrittlement of the boiler parts like

bends, joints, etc.
 Priming and Foaming

• Causes of priming
• Priming is caused by :
• Very poor boiler design.
• High steam velocity.
• Sudden boiling of water.
• Very high water level, in the boiler.
• Pressure of large number of dissolved salts.
 Foaming

• The formation of stable bubbles above the

surface of water in boilers is called foaming.
Causes for foaming
• The presence of oil and grease in water.
• The presence of finely divided sludge particles
in water.