Coagulation and flocculation

Submitted by :
1.Vaishali Thakur
2. Akanksha Dhiman
3. Kirat Chauhan
4. Prachi Sharma
Submitted to : Dr. Madhuri Rishi 5. Shriya Mehta
6. Richa
Water Treatment Process

Source : techalive.mtu
Why we need the process of coagulation and
flocculation ?
o Groundwater and surface water contain both dissolved
and suspended particles. Coagulation and flocculation
are used to separate the suspended solid portion from the
water.
o Large heavy particles settles out readily , but smaller
and lighter particles settle very slowly or in some cases
they do not settle at all , because of this we require the
two process coagulation and flocculation.
Type , Diameter and Settling time of different particles :

Source : Research gate

(Mona.M.Gala,2013)
 Coagulation

o Coagulation is a chemical process that involves a neutralizing charge on the particles .

o The coagulation process involves adding iron , 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.
o The positive charge of the coagulant neutralizes the negative charge of dissolved and
suspended particles in the water.
o The coagulant is added to the water and it is rapidly mixed, so that the coagulant is
circulated throughout the water.
o 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.
Source : intechopen.com
S.no. Coagulants/Flocculants Dosage mg/L (approx.)
1. Aluminum Sulphate(dry) 75-250
2. Ferric Chloride 45-90
3. Lime 200-400
4. Ferric Sulphate 5-50
5. Polymers Usually <1(0.25-1.5)

Avoid overdosage
Types of Coagulants :

o Coagulants stabilizes the electric charge and add density to slow settling “flocs” .
o Chemical coagulants are metallic salts (e.g. Alum ) or polymers .
o Metallic salts :

Source : research gate (Vickey

Kumar,2017)
Reactions of few coagulants :
1.

2.

Source : techalive.in
 Factors affecting Coagulation
o Types of Coagulant – ex. Alum is most commonly used coagulant ( easily available , good for hard water and high
alkalinity though has narrow pH range i.e. 5.5-8 , ferric sulphate (pH range 5-11) , sodium aluminate (used for hard
water).
o Types of particles – 1) Discrete particles – the particles which cannot change the shape and size ex. Sand , gravel etc.
2) Flocculated particles – the particles which change the shape and size ex. Clay, bacteria etc.
o Quantity and dose of coagulants .
o Characteristics of water such as –
- Temperature(for effective coagulation , high temperature is suitable while low temperature slows down the process) ,
 pH (for coagulation at optimum dose of coagulant consideration of pH is important , ex. Alum works within 5.5-8
pH range ).
o Turbulence , time and method mixing (rapid mixing – serves to disperse the coagulants evenly throughout the water
and to ensure a complete chemical reaction , after the flash mix , a longer period of gentle agitation is needed to
promote particle collisions and enhances the growth of floc. )
o Coagulant aids (pH adjusters like lime , activated silica , clays , polymers ) can be used to enhance the process of
coagulation.
 Flocculation :

o Flocculation is gentle stirring or agitation to encourage the particles thus formed to

agglomerate into masses large enough to settle or be filtered from solution.
o The term flocculation is derived from floc, which means flakes of material , and when a
solution has been flocculated, the sediment has formed into larger aggregated flakes,
making them easier to see and remove.
o Flocculants are added in this process.
o Flocculants are substances that promote the agglomeration of fine particles present in a
solution, creating a floc, which then floats to the surface (flotation) or settles to the bottom
(sedimentation). This can then be more easily removed from the liquid.
o The flocculants join the particles together into flocs, which are then separated from the
solution, once they have either fallen as sediment or floated to the surface.
Process of flocculation :

o Flocculation occurs when small particles in a solution lose their repelling forces and begin
to attract one another.
o The small particles then bond together to form “flocs” or “flakes.” Under most
circumstances, a flocculant is necessary to begin the flocculation process.
o The most common flocculants are aluminum sulphate , ferric sulphate , sodium aluminate
etc. When flocs are fully formed, they can be removed from the solution they are in
through traditional filtration methods.

Source : thetechfaq
Source : aquarden technologies
Difference between coagulation and
flocculation:
Coagulation flocculation
o Coagulation is a chemical process, o Flocculation, is a physical process that
whereby the chemical properties of the causes particles to floc together.
solution are altered to promote o Flocculants are often polymers, which
coagulation.
induce the settling of particles into larger
o Coagulants are usually salts, which break and larger flakes or flocs.
down to release positive or negative o It includes slow mixing .
charges.
o Flocs increases in diameter
o It includes rapid mixing.
o “Pin-point” floc formation .
Applications of Coagulation and
Flocculation:
o This technology is used as primary treatments for removal of particulate matter and
organic matter effectively. The process is very efficient in removal of total solids (TS),
Total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS) and chemical oxygen demand
(COD) , Color .
o Treatment of degreasing baths or purification of rinse water in surface treatment and the
car industry , the process is accompanied by phosphate removal and metal precipitation.
o Pre-purification of waste water in food sector , for example sugar refineries , removal of
oils and fats etc.
o It is applicable in water treatment and also tannery, coffee, detergent, tar and dairy
wastewater efficiently.
References :
o safewater.org/fact-sheets-1/2017/1/23/conventional-water-treatment
o https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/flocculation
o https://enva.com/case-studies/flocculants-in-wastewater-treatment
o https://www.iwapublishing.com/news/coagulation-and-flocculation-water-and-wastewater-treatment
o https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Synthetic-Inorganic-Coagulants-Advantages-and-Disadvantage
s_tbl2_315925744
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