Name: Elizer B.

Eleccion Score:

Alum Coagulation
CHT192.1 ACTIVITY7

INTRODUCTION

Generally, we encounter very fine and charged clay like particles in water
treatment, which should be detached before we continue for further processes.
When water is passed through a sedimentation tank, these impurities do not
settle down by gravity. The cause being that these are charged particles, they
repel each other and just stay.
Coagulation is the process of addition of a chemical to de-stabilize a stabilized
charged particle.
Flocculation is a slow mixing technique which promotes agglomeration and
helps the particles to settle down.
The presence of fine charged particles increases the turbidity of the water,
which is undesirable, and hence these impurities are to be removed. Therefore,
which will be using a chemical, which separates as soon as it added to water and
helps in the process of "Coagulation". In the current experiment we are using
"Alum" [Al2(SO4)3 18H20] as the clarifying agent.
Coagulation removes not only turbidity, but also colour, odour producing
substance, microorganisms, algae, phosphate and taste. Molecules dissociate to
yield SO42- and Al3+ when alum solution is added to water. In order to neutralize
the charge these charged species combine with the charged colloidal particles. A
complete description of the charge removal can be found in the web which will
be based on two basic definitions "Stern potential" and "Zeta Potential".
Through the slow mixing or so called "Flocculation" a process known as
agglomeration occurs which combines the charged particles into a compact
whole and helps in the settling of the particle. That is the reason why we have
step of "slow mixing" in this experiment. Excess dosage of alum may give
excess aluminium in water and increases turbidity. Due to less dosage of alum,
all dissolved solids may not get coagulated. Hence it is essential to have an
optimal dosage so the turbidity is not increased due to alum.

Jar Test :

Jar test is a common laboratory method used to determine the optimum

operating conditions for water or wastewater treatment. This process allows
changes in pH, variations in coagulant or polymer dose, alternating mixing
speeds, or testing of different coagulant or polymer types, on a small scale in
order to predict the working of a large-scale treatment operation.

Jar Testing Apparatus :

The jar testing apparatus consists of six paddles, which stir the contents of
six one-litre containers. One container act as a controller while the operating
conditions can be varied among the residual five containers. An rpm gage at the
top-centre of the device allows for the constant control of the mixing speed in
all of the containers.

OBSERVATIONS:
Optimum Alum dosage =15.2 mg/l

Inference:

The optimum quantity of Alum required for the given sample with turbidity 2.59NTU is 15.2 mg/l.