COAGULATION/

FLOCCULATION
for WASTEWATER TREATMENT
I N DUSTRIAL WASTE & MAN AGEMENT CON T ROL
P R E PA R E D BY: M A R Y V E R M I A I Z Z A M . C O R P U Z
MIXING THEORY
❑ Efficient coagulation requires efficient of mixing the coagulant with the water.
❑ Efficient flocculation requires mixing to bring the particles into contact with
one another.
 ASPECTS OF MIXING DEVICE SELECTION
1. VELOCITY GRADIENT
❑In the 1940s Kolmogorov (1941) and Camp and
Stein (1943) independently developed a method of
quantifying the energy dissipation in a vessel.
❑Camp and Stein further proposed that the root-
mean-square (RMS) of the velocity gradient (G) of
𝑑𝑣
the fluid, that is 𝑑𝑦 , be used to estimate energy
dissipation
ASPECTS OF MIXING DEVICE SELECTION
1. VELOCITY GRADIENT
❑It may be be thought of as the amount of
shear taking place; that is, the higher the G
value, the more violent the mixing.
❑The velocity gradient is a function of the
power input into a unit volume of water.
ASPECTS OF MIXING DEVICE SELECTION
1. VELOCITY GRADIENT
❑The velocity gradient is a function of the
power input into a unit volume of water.

𝟏/𝟐
𝑷
𝑮=
𝝁𝑽
where

𝐺 = 𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙 𝑅𝑀𝑆 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡, 1/𝑠

𝑃 = 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑖𝑥𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑙, 𝑊
𝜇 = 𝑑𝑦𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝑃𝑎 ∙ 𝑠
𝑉= volume of liquid, 𝑚3
ASPECTS OF MIXING DEVICE SELECTION
1. VELOCITY GRADIENT
❑Coagulation requires very high velocity
gradients.
❑Flocculation requires a velocity gradient
▪ high enough to cause particle contact and to
keep the flocs from settling
▪ low enough to prevent the flocs from tearing
apart.
ASPECTS OF MIXING DEVICE SELECTION
2. MIXING TIME
❑Experimental work has revealed that coagulant reactions are very fast
❑Alum hydrolyzes to Al(OH)2+ within 10-5s
❑Formation of mono- and polynuclear hydroxide species was on the order of 10-3 s

❑ Nearly instantaneous and intense mixing of metal salts is of critical importance

❑This is especially true when the metal salts are being used to lower the surface charge of the particles
(adsorption and destabilization in Figure 6-9). Mixing times of less than 1 s are recommended in this
case

❑Formation of the aluminum-hydroxide-precipitate is slower and occurs in the range of 1 to 7 s.

ASPECTS OF MIXING DEVICE SELECTION
Time requirement for Flocculation: dependent on the requirements of downstream
processes
a. CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT (settling follows the flocculation): 20 to 30 minutes flocculation
time
b. If DIRECT FILTRATION follows flocculation: 10 to 20 minutes flocculation time
 ASPECTS OF MIXING DEVICE SELECTION
2. MIXING TIME
▪The time that a fluid particle remains in the reactor affects the degree to which the reaction goes to completion.
▪In ideal reactors the average time in the reactor (the theoretical detention time also known as hydraulic detention time,
hydraulic residence time, or detention time) is defined as

𝑽
𝒕=
𝑸
where 𝒕 = theoretical detention time, s
𝑽= volume of fluid in reactor, m3
𝑸 = flowrate into reactor, m3/s
 ASPECTS OF MIXING DEVICE SELECTION
2. MIXING TIME
▪The time that a fluid particle remains in the reactor affects the degree to which the reaction goes to completion.
▪In ideal reactors the average time in the reactor (the theoretical detention time also known as hydraulic detention time,
hydraulic residence time, or detention time) is defined as

𝑽
𝒕=
𝑸
where 𝒕 = theoretical detention time, s
𝑽= volume of fluid in reactor, m3
𝑸 = flowrate into reactor, m3/s
ASPECTS OF MIXING DEVICE SELECTION
SELECTION OF G and Gt values
❑Criteria for the design of mixing systems: G and Gt (product of velocity gradient and time)
❑ Selection of G and Gt depends on:
a. mixing device
b. chemicals selected
c. anticipated reactions
ASPECTS OF MIXING DEVICE SELECTION
SELECTION OF G and Gt values
❑RECOMMENDED VALUES:
G, [1/s] t, [s]
Adsorption and 3000 to 5000 0.5
destabilization reactions

Sweep Coagulation 6000 to 1000 1 to 10

(e.g. colloid is trapped in
the hydroxide precipitate)
MIXING PRACTICE
Although there are some instances of overlap, mixing equipment may
be divided into two broad categories:
1. Equipment that is applicable to dispersion of the coagulant into
the raw water. Dispersion of the coagulant into water is called
flash mixing or rapid mixing.
2. Equipment used to flocculate the coagulated water.
FLASH MIXING DESIGN
1. Adsorption/Destabilization
Mechanism
❑ Diffusion mixing by pressured water
jets.
❑ In-line mechanical mixing.
❑ In-line static mixing

2. Sweep Coagulation
❑ Mechanical mixing in stirred tanks
❑ Diffusion by pipe-grid
❑ Hydraulic mixing
FLASH MIXING DESIGN
IN-LINE MECHANICAL MIXER (IN-LINE BLENDER)
FLASH MIXING DESIGN
IN-LINE STATIC MIXER:
mixer consists of a pipe
with in-line helical vanes
that rotate and split the
flow to increase turbulence.
The vanes are segmented
so that the number of
vanes may be adjusted to
fit local conditions. These
segments are called
elements.

https://www.911metallurgist.com/flocculation-
flow-pipes-mixers/
FLASH MIXING DESIGN
ADVANTAGES OF IN-LINE
STATIC MIXERS:
1. no moving parts
2. no external power source
required
DISADVANTAGE: mixing is
dependent on the flowrate

https://www.911metallurgist.com/flocculation-
flow-pipes-mixers/
FLASH MIXING DESIGN
 FLASH MIXING DESIGN

IN-LINE JET MIXER WITH PUMPED INJECTED FLOW IN-LINE JET MIXER WITH PLANT PRESSURIZED FLOW
SAMPLE CALCULATIONS
FLASH OR RAPID MIXING
IN-LINE BLENDER DESIGN
EXAMPLE:
Based on jar test results, the predominant mechanism of coagulation of a wastewater
sample is adsorption/destabilization mechanism. The design flowrate is 383 m3/h and
temperature is 17 deg C.

a. What are the recommended values of velocity gradient G and detention time t?
b. Based on the table below, an in-line blender of model A-Z6 was chosen. Calculate
the detention time t based on this choice.
c. Assume that the water power is 80% of the motor power. Estimate the velocity
gradient G. The absolute viscosity of the water at 17 deg C is 1.081 x 10-3 Pa.s.
d. Did the calculated t and G meet the recommended criteria for system with
adsorption and destabilization mechanism?
Note: A, B,C,D,E, and F are dimensions in cm.
C = diameter of chamber
D = length of chamber
REFERENCES
1. ASTM D2035 − 13. Standard Practice for Coagulation-Flocculation Jar Test of Water
2. https://www.safewater.org/fact-sheets-1/2017/1/23/conventional-water-treatment
3. https://www.iwapublishing.com/news/coagulation-and-flocculation-water-and-wastewater-
treatment
4. Mackenzie L Davis, Water and Wastewater Engineering, 2010. The McGraw – Hill Companies,
Inc