Coagulation

Dr. Praveena G
IIT Palakkad
Coagulation 10-5 µm

Dissolved Solids

10-3 µm

Colloidal Solids

1 µm

Suspended Solids

100 µm
1 µm = 10-3 mm
Coagulation 10-5 µm

Dissolved Solids

10-3 µm

Colloidal Solids

1 µm

Suspended Solids

100 µm
1 µm = 10-3 mm
Coagulation and Flocculation
• Coagulation is a chemical technique

• Coagulation is a process of destabilizing the colloids by the addition of

chemicals.

• Flocculation is a slow mixing technique that promotes the agglomeration

of destabilized particles (flocs) .

• Addition of chemicals (coagulants) and mixing (flocculation) are considered

as a single step.
 Surface water treatment system Storage

Disinfection
Rapid Sand
Raw water Filter
Settling
Tank

Flocculation
Rapid Mix Basin

Sludge

Coagulation Sedimentation Filtration Disinfection

 Colloidal Stability

Fine sand Colloidal particles

Pebbles
Size, 10 mm; Size, 0.1 mm; Size, 0.0001 mm;
Settling Velocity, 0.73 m/s Settling Velocity, 1 x 10-2 m/s Settling Velocity, 1 x 10-8m/s (0.3 m/year)
Colloidal Stability

• Very small size

• large surface to volume ratio
• Negative charge
- - --
Colloidal Stability

• Very small size

• large surface to volume ratio
• Negative charge
• Brownian Movement
Electrical double layer
+
+ +
+- - - +
-
+- +
+ -- - + -
+ + +- +
 Helmholtz layer or
Stern Layer (Fixed layer)
Electrical double layer
+
+ +
+- - - +
-
+- +
+ -- - + -
+ + +- +
 Helmholtz layer or
Stern Layer
Electrical double layer
-+ - +
Diffuse Layer

+ + + + + -
- +- - - + -
+ -
- +- - + + --
+ -
+- + - - - + -
+ + +
-- --
+ - +
Diffuse Layer: The layer of cations and anions that extends from the Helmholtz layer to the bulk solution
where the charge is zero and electroneutrality is satisfied is known as the diffuse layer.
The adsorbed (Helmholtz) and diffuse layer are known as the electric double layer (EDL)
Electrical double layer Helmholtz layer or
Stern Layer (theoretical)

Diffuse Layer

+ + - --
+ ++ + - ++ + + -
++ - +- - - + -
+ + -
+ + - +- + --
+ + + - -
+ + +- + - - - + --
Positively charged
+ + + + +
counterions attracted -- --
to negative pol + + + - +
+ Particle with high negative
surface charge moves toward
positive pole
Electrical double layer Shear plane Helmholtz layer or
Stern Layer (theoretical)

Diffuse Layer

+ + - --
+ ++ + - ++ + + -
++ - +- - - + -
+ + -
+ + - +- + --
+ + + - -
+ + +- + - - - + --
Positively charged
+ + + + +
counterions attracted -- --
to negative pol + + + - +
+ Particle with high negative
surface charge moves toward
positive pole
• The electrical potential between the actual shear plane and
the bulk solution is called the zeta potential.

• Zeta potential can be measured to give an indication of

particle stability
• High value = stable; low value = unstable
Colloid Destabilization
1. Ionic layer compression
High ionic concentration compresses the layers toward the surface of the colloid.
If this layer is sufficiently compressed, then the van del' Waals force will be predominant

Example: Deltas
Colloid Destabilization
2. Adsorption and charge neutralization

Al3+ + H2O AlOH2+ + H+

Al3+ + 2 H2O Al(OH) 2 + + 2H+

7Al3+ + 17 H2O Al7(OH) 17 4+ + 17H+

Al3+ + 3 H2O Al (OH)3+ 3H+

 Colloid Destabilization
3. Sweep Coagulation

Al3+ + 3 H2O Al (OH)3+ 3H+

Al3+ + 3 H2O Al (OH)3+ 3H+
4. Interparticle bridging

• Synthetic polymers can be used instead

of metallic salts.
• The polymers may be linear or
branched and are highly surface
reactive.
• Several colloids may become attached
to one polymer and several of the
polymer-colloid groups may become
enmeshed resulting in a settleable mass.
Properties of coagulants
1. Trivalent cations
2. Nontoxic
3. insoluble in neutral pH
 Coagulants
1. Liquid Alum:
Aluminium sulphate [Al2(SO4)3.14 H2O]

Al2(SO4)3.14 H2O + 6 HCO3- 2 Al (OH)3 . 3H2O (s)+ 6CO2+ 8 H2O + 3SO42-

Al2(SO4)3.14 H2O 2 Al (OH)3 . 3H2O(s)+ 3H2SO4 + 2 H2O

Recap
• The size of the colloidal particle is ranges from ……. to ……
• …………………… is a process of destabilizing the colloids by the addition
of chemicals.
• Why colloids are stable in water?
• The layer of cations and anions that extends from the Helmholtz layer
to the bulk solution is called……………..
• The adsorbed (Helmholtz) and diffuse layer are known as …………..
• Particles tend to be stable when the value of zeta potential is …………..
• Deltas are formed due to …………………………
• Explain the different destabilization methods.
• What is the importance of alkalinity in the alum coagulation process?
Jar Test for Optimum Coagulant Dosage
Alum dose Residual
(mg/L) Turbidity
5 14
7 9.5
10 5
12 4.5
15 6
20 13
Results of Jar Tests

S1 S2 S3 S4
Results of Jar Tests

Residual Turbidity
S1 S2 S3 S4

Dosage of Coagulant