DISSOLVED AIR FLOATION

• Suitable for treatment of waste activated

sludge.
• Minute air bubble get attached to solids and
cause the solids to separate from the water in
an upward direction.
• This happens because solids particle with
attached bubble have lower specific gravity
than water.
• The degree of adhesion depends on the
surface properties of the solids.
• The upward moving particles form a sludge
blanket on the surface of the flotation
thickener.
• Addition of alum, Polyelectrolytes can
increase the efficiency of the flotation unit.
• Particles that have a higher density than the
liquid can thus be made to rise.
• The rising of particles with lower density than
the liquid can also be facilitated (e.g., oil
suspension in water).
 Dissolved-Air Flotation
• In dissolved-air flotation (DAF) systems, air is
dissolved in the wastewater under a pressure
of several atmospheres, followed by release of
the pressure to the atmospheric level.
• In small pressure systems, the entire flow may
be pressurized by means of a pump to 275 to
350 kPa with compressed air added at the
pump suction
• The entire flow is held in a retention tank
under pressure for several minutes to allow
time for the air to dissolve.
• It is then admitted through a pressure-
reducing valve to the flotation tank the air
comes out of solution in very fine bubbles.
 Design Considerations for Dissolved-Air
Flotation Systems
• Factors that must be considered in the design
of flotation units include
– The concentration of particulate matter,
– The quantity of air used,
– The particle-rise velocity, and
– The solids loading rate.
• The performance of a dissolved-air flotation
system depends primarily on the ratio of the
volume of air to the mass of solids (A/S)
required to achieve a given degree of
clarification.
• The ratio will vary with each type of
suspension and must be determined
experimentally using a laboratory flotation
cell.
• Typical A/S ratios encountered in the
thickening of solids and biosolids in
wastewater-treatment plants vary from about
0.005 to 0.060.
• The relationship between the A/S ratio and
the solubility of air, the operating pressure,
and the concentration of solids for a system in
which all the flow is pressurized
SOLID LOADING RATE
 DAF Process
• A typical DAF system is designed to recirculate
a portion of clarified effluent through a
pressurization system by means of a
centrifugal recycle pump.
• The recycled effluent flow is pumped into an
air saturation tank where compressed air is
dissolved into the flow under pressure.
• The air saturated recycle is then fed under
pressure to the center of the DAF tank where
it thoroughly mixes with the DAF influent flow.
• The sudden release of pressure by means of a
back pressure control valve causes the
dissolved air to come out of solution and form
microscopic bubbles
• These microscopic bubbles adhere to
incoming solids and form a buoyant blanket
which rises to the surface for mechanical
removal.
• Floating solids are skimmed into a float box by
rotating skimmer arms.
• Any settled solids are scraped to the center of
the tank by sludge rake arms for removal from
the DAF sludge hopper.
• Clarified effluent exits the tank under a float
retention baffle and into a peripheral effluent
launder.
 Industrial Flotation
• Refineries
• Food Processing and Food Packaging
• Chemical Processing
• Laundry
• Pulp and Paper
• Tanneries
• Industrial Water Treatment
 Air Solubility in Water

• Amount of air that can be dissolved in water -

decreases with temperature and increases
with pressure
 A/S RATIO
• Air/Solids (A/S) ratio has important influence
on dissolved air flotation.
• Higher A/S ratio is required for maintenance
of removal efficiency for wastewater
containing lower suspended solids.
• A/S ratio 0.05 is required for wastewater
containing suspended solids lower than 1000
mg L-1.
 SURFACE LOADING RATE
• The surface loading rate is a
hydraulic loading factor expressed in terms of
flow per surface area. This factor is also
referred to as the “surface settling rate” or
“surface overflow rate.”
 GAUGE PRESSURE
• The amount by which the pressure measured
in a fluid exceeds that of the atmosphere
• 1 atm = 101.35 kpa