3.

Coagulacin-Floculacin

Dr. Miguel ngel Lpez Zava

CD-403-G, Ext. 5561, Subext. 10

[email protected]

Contenido
1. Partculas coloidales y mecanismos de
coagulacin
o Origen de su carga elctrica
o Capacidad de intercambio catinico
o Teora de la doble capa
2. Fuerzas bsicas y mecanismos de
coagulacin
3. Coagulantes
4. El papel del pH y la alcalinidad
5. Floculacin
6. Prueba de jarras

Role of coagulation and floccculation

processes in water treatment

Role of coagulation and floccculation

processes in water treatment

Role of coagulation and floccculation

processes in water treatment

Role of coagulation and floccculation

processes in water treatment

Role of coagulation and floccculation

processes in water treatment

Coagulation process
Destabilization of small suspended and
colloidal particulate matter
Adsorption and/or reaction of portions
of the colloidal and dissolved NOM to
particles, and
Creation of flocculant particles that will
sweep through the water to be treated,
enmeshing small suspended, colloidal,
and dissolved material as they settle

Role of coagulation and floccculation

processes in water treatment

Flocculation process
To
produce
particles,
by
means
of
aggregation, that can be removed by
subsequent particle separation procedures:
sedimentation and/or filtration
Microflocculation
(perikinetic):
particle
aggregation by the random thermal motion
of fluid molecules (Brownian motion)
Macroflocculation (orthokinetic): particle
aggregation by inducing velocity gradients
and mixing in the fluid containing the
particles

Practical design issues

Type and concentration of coagulants

and flocculation aids
Mixing intensity and the method used
to disperse chemicals into the water
for destabilization
Mixing
intensity
flocculation

and

time

for

Selection of the liquid-solid separation

process

Properties and stability of particles in

water: Physicochemical properties

Particle size:

Suspended particles: > 0.4 m

Colloidal particles: 0.001 m 0.4 m
Soluble constituents: < 0.001 m

Particle number and distribution

Raw surface water: 100 - > 10,000

particles/mL
Particle number frequency distribution:
dN
F (d p )
d (d p )
F(dp) = function defining frequency distribution of particles d1, d2, d3
dN = particle number concentration with respect to incremental change
in particle diameter d(dp)
d(dp) = incremental change in particle diameter

Properties and stability of particles in

water: Physicochemical properties

In natural waters:

Number of particles increases with

decreasing particle diameter
Frequency distribution typically follows a
power law distribution:
dN
N
A(d p )
d (d p )
(d p )
A = power law density coefficient
dp = particle diameter, m

N
log A log(d p )
(d p )

= incremental change in particle diameter

log

Properties and stability of particles in

water: Physicochemical properties

If < 1, particle size

dominated by large particles

distribution

If = 1, all particle sizes are represented

equally

If > 1, particle size

dominated by small particles

distribution

Properties and stability of particles in

water: Physicochemical properties
Particle shape:

Varies depending on the characteristics of the

source water
Shape of particles affects the electrical properties,
the particle-particle interactions, and particlesolvent interactions

Particle-solvent interactions

Hydrophobic (water repelling):

Well defined interface between the water and solid

phases
Low affinity for water molecules
Thermodynamically
unstable
and
aggregate
irreversibly over time

Hydrophilic (water attracting):

Clays, metal oxides, proteins, humic acids, virus,

bacteria, protozoa, algae
Have polar or ionized surface functional groups
Micelles (organized aggregates, association of
colloids)

Properties and stability of particles in

water: Electrical properties

Origin of particle surface charge:

Isomorphous
replacement
(crystal
imperfections): metal oxide minerals (silicon
replaced by aluminum), negative charge
Structural
charge

imperfections:

clay,

negative

Preferential adsorption of specific ions: NOM

contains carboxylic groups, negative charge
Ionization of inorganic groups on particulate
surfaces: mineral surfaces contain hydroxyl
groups and their charge depends on pH

Properties and stability of particles in

water: Electrical properties

Variation in particle charge with pH

Properties and stability of particles in

water: Electrical properties
Electrical double layer:

Properties and stability of particles in

water: Electrical properties

Double layer thickness:

(2)(1000)e N A I
10

kT
0

10

1/2

-1 = doble -layer thickness, A

1010 = length conversion, A/m
1000 = volume conversion, L/m3
e = electron charge, 1.60219 x 10-19 C
NA = Avogadros number, 6.02205 x 1023/mole
I = ionic strength,

1 , mole/L
2
Z
M

Z = magnitude of positive or negative charge ion

M = molar concentration of cationic or anionic species, mole/L
k = Boltzmann constant, 1.38066 x 10-23 J/K
T = absolute temperature, K (273 + oC)

Properties and stability of particles in

water: Electrical properties

Measurement of surface charge:

highly dispersed particle systems having a
solid dispersed phase and liquid dispersion
medium
Electrophoresis: Zeta potential
Electroosmosis
Sedimentation potential
Streaming potential

Properties and stability of particles in

water: Electrical properties
Zeta potential (electrical potential):

Properties and stability of particles in

water: Electrical properties

Zeta potential:

Function: size and shape of the particle, number of

charges on the particles, strength of the electric
field, and nature of the ions in the diffused layer

v0 k z
Z
0

Z = zeta potential, mV
v0 = electrophoretic mobility, m/s, V/cm
= vE/E, in natural waters (-2 to +2)
vE = electrophoretic velocity of migrating particle, m/s,
nm/s, mm/s
E = electrical field at particle, V/cm
kz = constant that is 4 or 6 when particle is much
smaller than thickness of double layer)
= dynamic viscosity of water, N.s/m2
= Permitivity relative to a vacuum ( for water is 78.54)
0 = permitivity in a vacuum, 8.854188x10-12 C2/J.m, N/V2
When Z < 20 mV, rapid flocculation occurs

Properties and stability of particles in

water: particle stability

Depends on:
Repulsive electrostatic force: principal mechanism
controlling the stability of hydrophobic and
hydrophilic particulates

Attractive force: Van der Waals Forces

Particle-particle interactions: aggregation by means

of Brownian motion

Coagulation theory: mechanisms of

coagulation
Compression of the electrical double layer
Adsorption and charge neutralization
Hydrolyzed metal salts
Prehydrolyzed metal salts
Cationic organic polymers
Adsorption and interparticle bridging
Nonionic polymers and high-molecular-weigh (10 5 a
107)
Low-surface-charge polymers
Cationic polymers with high charge density
Enmeshment in a precipitate, or sweep floc
It is not influenced by type of particle present
Hydrolysis and polymerization of metal ions
Adsorption of hydrolysis products at the interface
Charge neutralization

Coagulation theory: common inorganic

coagulants

Coagulation theory: synthetic organic

polymers

Flocculation theory: mechanisms of

flocculation

Flocculation theory: mechanisms of

flocculation

Microflocculation
Flocculation of small particles (<
0.1 m) by Brownian motion
Macroflocculation
Major mechanism for floculation of
particles > 1 m
Mixing causes velocity gradients
and greater number of collisions
between particles
Gentle mixing
Flocculation kinetics
Tambo and Watanabe, Japan (1979)
Odegaard, Norway (1985)

Flocculation
theory:
performance factors

Flocculation

Tambo and Watanabe: dimensionless

flocculation kinetics
Flocculation time required for
formation of settleable flocs is very
short, compared with that required for
reaching the ultimate floc size
distribution
Decreasing rate of concentration of
microflocs is not significantly reduced
if the larger flocs disappear in the
flocculator
Odegaard
Intensity of mixing
Residence time and residence time

Flocculation theory: Aggregate shapes

formed by flocculation

Treatability tests: Jar-tests

Objective:
To simulate, to the extent possible,
the expected or desired conditions
in the coagulation-flocculation
facilities
How to conduct:
First, a rapid-mix phase (high
mixing intensity) with addition of
coagulant (Coagulation)
Then, slow-mix period to simulate
flocculation (Flocculation)
Finally time for settling (Settling)

Jar-tests: Experimental device

G
values
flocculation

for

coagulation

Coagulation: Rapid mixing

Contact time: 20 s G = 1000 s-1
Contact time: 30 s G = 900 s-1
Contact time: 40 s G = 790 s-1
Contact time: > 40 s G = 700 s-1
Flocculation: Slow mixing
G = 20 50 s-1 paddles, 10 80 s-1
turbines
Contact time: 20 - 30 min

and

Treatability tests: Jar-tests

Parameters to measure:
Turbidity, suspended solids
removal
Dissolved solids, DQO
DOC or UV absorbance at 254
(260) nm
Metals concentration
Residual dissolved coagulant
concentration
Sludge volume that is

Treatability tests: Jar-tests

Treatability tests: Jar-tests

Treatability tests: Jar-tests

Treatability tests: Jar-tests

Treatability tests: Jar-tests

Treatability tests: Jar-tests

Treatability tests: Jar-tests

Coagulation-flocculation-Mixing

Mixing is a central part of coagulationflocculation process

Chemical reactors in water treatment and
biological aeration basins in wastewater
processing
are
designed
as
either
completely mixed or plug-flow basins
Applications of complete mixing in water
treatment are:
Rapid (flash or quick) mix tanks used to
blend chemicals into raw water for
coagulation
Mixing and reaction zone in flocculatorclarifiers
Highrate activated sludge and extended

Coagulation mixing

Coagulation mixing

Flocculation-Mixing
Common types flocculation
mixing systems:
1.Vertical-shaft turbine system

2.Horizontal paddle wheel system

3.Hydraulic mixing systems

Flocculation-Mixing

For complete mixing and steady-state

conditions, the first-order reaction
kinetics is given by Eq. 1
t

V 1 Co

1
Q k Ct

(1)

wheret = detention time

V = volume of basin
Q = flow rate
k = rate constant for first order
kinetics
Co = influent reactant concentration

Flocculation-Mixing
For an ideal plug-flow system and
steady-state
conditions,
the
relationship between detention time
and concentration, applying firstorder reaction kinetics, is given in Eq.
2
V L 1 C
t

ln

Ct
o

(2)
wheret, V, Q, Co, Ct are same as Eq. 1
L = length of rectangular basin
= horizontal flow velocity
Q = flow rate

Mixing theory and practice

Camp and Stein equation (1943)

P
G
V

Nd 2
NR
1x105
(3)

G = Velocity gradient, s-1

P = Power of mixing input to vessel, W, J/s
V = Volume of mixing vessel, m3
K = Constant, propeller 2 or 3 wings: 1
= Water density, kg/m3
d = Propeller diameter, m
N = Propeller velocity, rps

Coagulation: Rapid mixing

Contact
Contact
Contact
Contact

time:
time:
time:
time:

20 s
30 s
40 s
> 40 s

G = 1000 s-1
G = 900 s-1
G = 790 s-1
G = 700 s-1

Flocculation: Slow mixing

G = 20 50 s-1 paddles, 10 80 s-1 turbines

P KN 3 d 5

Design of mixing systems: vertical

turbine mixers

Design of flocculation mixing systems:

vertical turbine mixers
Design considerations:
Displacement capacity: rate at which impeller pumps
water
Power consumption
Pumping head
Camp and Stein equation (1943)

P
G
V

Nd 2
Re
1x105

Turbulent regimen

P KN 3 d 5
(4)
G = Velocity gradient, s-1
P = Power of mixing input to vessel, W, J/s
V = Volume of mixing vessel, m3
K = Constant, impeller 2 or 3 wings: 1
= Water density, kg/m3
d = Propeller diameter, m
N = Propeller velocity, rps

Design of mixing systems: vertical

turbine mixers
Three parameters
mixing devices:
Power number
Np

P
N 3 d 5

Pumping
Q number
NQ

important

for

design

of

(5)

Nd 3
Hg
(Nd )

N H number
Head
2

(6)

(7)
where Np = power number, dimensionless
NQ = pumping number, dimensionless
NH = head number, dimensionless
Q = flow rate imparted by impeller, m3/s
H = head impeller imparts to impeller flow, m

Design of mixing systems: vertical

turbine mixers

Design of mixing systems: vertical

turbine mixers

Design of mixing systems: vertical

turbine mixers

Example

Design of mixing systems: vertical

turbine mixers

Design of mixing systems: horizontal

paddle wheel

Design of mixing systems: horizontal

paddle wheel
Application:

High degree of solids removal by sedimentation is required

Disadvantage: requires more maintenance and expense, mainly because
bearings and packing are submerged

The power input to the water by horizontal paddles may be

estimated by the expression:
3
C
A

v
(8)
P D P r
2

where CD = drag coefficient on paddle (for turbulent flow), unitless

AP = projected area of paddle, m 2
= density, kg/m3
vr = velocity of paddle relative to fluid, m/s. 70 to 80 percent of the paddle
speed without tank baffles. With tank baffles 100 percent of the paddle speed is
approached
2
Nd
pw
(9)
Re

where dpw = diameter of paddle wheel

Design of mixing systems: horizontal

paddle wheel

Example

Design of mixing systems: horizontal

paddle wheel

Example

Design of mixing systems: hydraulic

mixer
Three groups of hydraulic
flocculators:
Baffled channels: most
common of hydraulic
flocculators
Hydraulic jet
flocculators

Coarse-media
flocculators

Design of mixing systems: hydraulic

mixer

Design of mixing systems: Hydraulic

flocculators
Baffled channels:
Velocity gradient can
following expression
G

(10)

be

determined

from

the

gH
t

where = density of water, kg/m3

g = acceleration due to gravity, 9.81 m/s2

H = head losses through basin, m
mLv=2 dynamic viscosity, N*s/m2 (kg/(m*s)
H 2
Ct R=
detention time, s
h

(11)
where L = length of the channel, m

Design of mixing systems: Hydraulic

flocculators
Head loss resulting from each 180o turn can be estimated
as follows:
v2
H k
2g
(12)
where k = empirical constant (typically 2.5 to 4), unitless

Coarse-media flocculators:
2
Head
porus
1 2 1the
through
1 1media
H loss
1 can

a
v b
v2

the following

3
g 3 equation:
L
d
g

be estimated by

(13)

where a,
vb = empirical coeffcients
d = size of media particles (determined by sieve
analysis), m
3

Design of mixing systems: hydraulic

mixer

Design of mixing systems: hydraulic

mixer

Project: Coagulation-flocculation
surface water and graywater
Three working teams
Six students each
Jar-tests:
Water Center Lab. or Chemical Engineering
Lab.
Water source: surface water and graywater
from different detergents (powder and liquid)
Objective: Determine optimum coagulationflocculation conditions for removal of
turbidity, suspended solids, dissolved solids,
TDOC, cations (Na, NH, Ca, Mg, k) and anions
(Cl, F, sulfates, phosphates, nitrates and
nitrites: pH, coagulant dosage, mixing
intensity, mixing duration, settling time

of

Project: Coagulation-flocculation
surface water and graywater

Design of mixing systems:

Objective: Based on jar tests
conduct the design of the following
systems: vertical turbine mixer,
horizontal paddle wheel y hydraulic
mixer
Report:
introduction,
objectives,
methodology,
results
analysis,
conclusions and recommendations,
references
Extension of report: 16 pages in
English (scientific paper style: water
research)

of

 !
GAMBARIMASU!