Royal University of Bhutan

College of Science and Technology

Rinchending: Bhutan

Environmental Engineering
Academic Year 2014, Winter Semester
Tutor: Tadashi Takahashi
Civil Engineering Department

Practical Report-VII:

Optimum Alum Dosage

Group ID: B-1
Submission Date: 7th/11/2014

Submitted By:
EDC2011041; Sanjit Kumar
EDC2011051; Tashi Zangmo
EDC2011052; Tenzin Norbu
EDC2011053; Tenzin Zam
EDC2011054; Thinley Gyelmo
EDC2011055; Tshering Cheki

Optimum alum dose

Significance of experiment
It is necessary to consider various factors for determination of the quantity of
flocculants in the coagulation treatment .(quantity of turbidity, quality of suspended
matter, pH, coexistence material,etc)
Therefore, the quantity of floculant is set experimentally.
Principle of measurement
2.1, The jar-test test: Adds flocculant of the different density in plural beakers (i.e.,
jar) with same stirring condition and find the best additive rate that showed the
best cohesiveness.
2.2, By the coagulation process, it is important that mixing flocculant uniformly
rapidly.
2.3,We must be careful that settle ability will be worsening if flocculant becomes
superabundant
Procedure
Apparatus

Results
Sample No.

Alum Dosage

Alum Concentration (mg/l)

Turbidity (NTU)

pH Value

20

32.3

6.6

80

25.4

5.9

160

22.5

5.4

12

240

28.4

4.0

16

320

35.2

3.5

Optimum Alum Dosage :

160 mg/l

Turbidity (NTU) and pH Value

Graph:
40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0

y = -0.2121x + 6.8091
R = 0.9805

10.0
5.0
0.0
0

10

12

14

16

18

Alum Dosage Concentration (ml)

Turbidity Variation

Turbidity Variation

Turbidity (NTU)

Optimum Alum Dosage-Tubidity

40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0

y = -1E-08x4 + 6E-06x3 - 0.0004x2 - 0.1144x + 34.712

50

100

150

200

Alum Concentration (mg/l)

250

300

350

pH Value Variation

pH Value

7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0

y = -0.2121x + 6.8091
R = 0.9805

10

12

14

16

Alum Concentration (mg/l)

Calculation:
By differentiation method: (assuming the alum dosage concentration variation to be
of power 4)

y = -1E-08x4 + 6E-06x3 - 0.0004x2 - 0.1144x + 34.712

Comments and Impression:

EDC2011041: Sanjit
Result: Optimum Alum Concentration: 160 mg/l
Discussions:

Amount of alum dosage required for coagulation depends on the turbidity of

raw water.

The use of optimum amount of coagulant is indicated by the formation of

large feathery flakes and approximately determined by Jar Test.

The revolution speed of the stirrer is very important. Rapid mixing causes
disperse the chemicals and slow mixing causes floc formation.

18

The lowest alum dosage that provides good turbidity removal during the jar
test is considered for first trial dosage in treatment plant operation and the
final optimum quantity is adjusted by actual observations at the water
treatment plant.

Impressions:

The calibration of turbidity meter is not working well because of which

repetitive calibration is required for every sample.

It is easy to observe the color change in the sample in various jar during final
settlement process of the flocculation but then it was difficult to conclude the
value of turbidity because of suspended particles variation.