Coagulation,
Floatation &
Sedimentation
Coagulation a n d Flocculation
• May be described as a chemical and physical process that
mix coagulating chemicals and flocculation aids with water
• The overall purpose is to form particles large enough to
be removed by the subsequent settling or filtration
process.
• Colloids, suspended material, bacteria and other organisms
can be removed by coagulation , flocculation, sedimentation
and filtration.
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Coagulation
◎ Coagulation is the process in which chemicals are added to
keep water, causing a reduction of the forces tending to keep
particles apart.
◎ Particles in source water are in a stable condition.
◎ The purpose of coagulation is to destabilize particles an
enable them to be attached to other particles so that they may
be removed in subsequent process.
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The coagulation process involves adding iron or aluminum salts, such as
aluminum sulphate, ferric sulphate, ferric chloride or polymers, to the water. These
chemicals are called coagulants, and have a positive charge. The positive charge of the
coagulant neutralizes the negative charge of dissolved and suspended particles in the
water. When this reaction occurs, the particles bind together, or coagulate (this process
is sometimes also called flocculation). The larger particles, or floc, are heavy and quickly
settle to the bottom of the water supply. This settling process is called sedimentation.
The following diagram illustrates the basic reactions and processes that occur during
coagulation.
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Rapid Mixing Process
◎ At pH levels above 4.0 particles or molecules are
generally negatively charged.
◎ The coagulation process physically occurs in rapid
mixing
process.
◎ Mixing is commonly referred to as flash mixing, rapid
mixing or initial mixing.
◎ The purpose of rapid mixing is to provide a uniform
dispersion of
coagulant chemical throughout the influent water.
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In a water treatment facility, the coagulant is added to the water and it is rapidly mixed, so that the
coagulant is circulated throughout the water. The coagulated water can either be filtered directly
through a medium filter (such as sand and gravel), a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane, or it can
be moved to a settling tank. In a settling tank, or clarifier, the heavy particles settle to the bottom and are
removed, and the water moves on to the filtration step of the treatment process.
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Coagulant Chemicals
◎ Coagulant chemicals are inorganic or organic
chemicals that, when added to water at an optimum
dosage, cause particle destabilization.
◎ Most coagulants are cationic when dissolved in water
and include chemicals such as alum, ferric salts, lime,
and cationic organic polymers
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Most Commonly use coagulants are:
1.Alum (aluminum sulfate) A12(SO4)3
• The most common coagulant, it is often used in conjunction with cationic
polymers.
2.Polyaluminum chloride Al(OH)x(Cl)y
• This is efficint in some waters, requiring less pH adjustment and producing
less sludge.
3.Ferric choride FeCl3
• This may be more effective than alum in some applications.
4.Ferric Sulfate Fe2(SO4)3
• It is effective in some waters nd more economical in some
locations
5.Cationic Polymers
• Can be used alone as the primary coagulant or in conjuction with
aluminum o iron coagulants. 10
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Flocculation
◎ Flocculation is agglomeration of small particles and colloids to
settleabe or filterable particles (flocs)
◎A separate flocculation process is most often includded in the
treatment train to enhance contact of destabilized particles an to
build floc particles of optimum size, density and strength.
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Flocculation Aids
Flocculation aids are chemicals used to assist in forming larger, denser
particles that can be more easily removed by sedimentation or filtration.
Flocculation aids are chemicals used to assist in forming larger, denser
particles that can be more easily removed by sedimentation or filtration.
Cationic, anionic, or non-ionic polymers are most often used in dosages of
less than 1.0 mg/L.
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Floc formation w i th polymers
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Flocculation Aids
Floc formed in many waters with alum is light and fragile and
somewhat difficult to settle. Polymers and other additives can often help
form a floc that is more efficiently removed by settling and filtration.
Typical additives used for flocculation aids are :
1. High-molecular-weight anionic or nonionic polymers.
2. Activated silica.
3. Bentonite
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Factors w h i c h affetct the cuagulant w o r k
1. Mixing Conditions
2. pH
3. Alkalinity
4. Water Temperature
5. Turbidity
If the alkalinity concentration in the water is not high enough, and effective floc will not form when
either alum or ferric sulfate is used.
Metal salts (alum, ferric sulfate, ferric chloride) consume natural
alkalinity. Each mg/L of alum will consume 0.5 mg/l total alkalinity (as
CaCO3).
Each mg/L ferric sulfate will consume 0.75 mg/L total alkalinity (as
CaCO3).
Each mg/L ferric chloride will consume 0.92 mg/L total alkalinity (as
CaCO3).
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Process Control
These raw water characteristics should be monitored in order to do a thorough job of chemical
selection.
1. Temperature
Low water temperatures slow chemical reactions, causing decreased efficiency and
slow floc formation.
Higher coagulant doses may be required to maintain acceptable
results.
2. pH
Extremes can interfere with the coagulation/flocculation process.
The optimum pH depends on the specific coagulant.
3. Alkalinity
Low alkalinity causes poor coagulation.
May be necessary to add alkalinity (lime, caustic soda, soda ash).
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4. Turbidity
Difficult to form floc with low turbidity water, may need to add
weighting agents.
5. Color
Indicates presence of organic chemicals which can react
with the coagulant, and with chlorine to form disinfection byproducts.
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J a r Test
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Coagulation / Flocculation Facilities
Flash Mix - purpose is to distribute the coagulant rapidly and evenly throughout the
water.
Water should be stirred violently for a brief time to encourage the greatest number
of collisions between particles as possible.
Types of Mixers: Mechanical - Pumps and Conduits
Detention time should be 30 seconds or less (Design Criteria).
Flocculation - provides for gentle mixing to encourage floc formation.
Detention time of at least 30 minutes, with a detention time of 45
minutes preferred.
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Adjustments of pH
Control of pH and alkalinity is an essential aspect of coagulation. The optimum pH for
coagulation varies but is generally within the following ranges for turbidity removal:
Alum: pH 5.5 to 7.5; typical pH 7.0
Ferric salts: pH 5.0 to 8.5; typical pH 7.5
It can be necessary to adjust the pH of some source waters to achieve optimum
coagulation.
The pH is often lowered by adding carbon dioxide or an acid.
Alum and ferric chloride consume alkalinity and can lower pH
it may be necessary to add caustic soda or lime to raise pH and to offset the acidity
of metal-ion coagulants, even in an enhanced coagulation mode of operation.
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Optimum pH for organics removal
Typically, the optimum pH for organics removal with alum is
between 6.0 and 6.5, and between 5.5 and 6.0 for ferric
coagulants. Often, polyaluminum chloride can provide organic
removal without as significant a decrease in pH.
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Natural Forces:
◎ Zeta Potential – Repulsion
◎ Van der Waals Force -
Attraction
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Types of Rapid Mixing Systems
Coagulant chemicals can be mixed by several methods, including :
1. Mechanical devices in a dedicated basin
2. In-line blenders
3. Hydraulic methods
4. Air mixing
5. Induction mixing
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Types of Flocculators
Mechanical Flocculators.
Mechanical flocculators are preferred by most design engineers because
of their greater flexibility in varying G values and because they have low head loss.
Typical arrangements for horizontal shaft, reel-type flocculators, and vertical paddle
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Types of Flocculation Ta n k s
Hydraulic Flocculators
◎ The axial flow flocculators are typically used because they impact a nearly constant
gradient
in each compartment.
◎ Flocculators are designed to have a minimum of three compartments to provide for
tapered (to make smaller gradually) mixing.
◎ The velocity gradient, G is tapered so that it is larger in the first compartment and less is
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