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Sedimentation Tank Details
Sedimentation Tank Details
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Figure 2: Peripheral flow clarifier
Pre-sedimentation
Some cities obtain water from rivers which are highly turbid at times. Some rivers
have turbidities which frequently, but temporarily, reach 10,000 to 40,000 mg/L.
Much of this suspended matter is coarse and will settle rapidly without chemical
treatment. Additionally, it is desirable to prevent this high concentration of
material from entering and overloading coagulation and filtration systems. For
these reasons some cities employ preliminary sedimentation with detention times
of 3 to 8 hours before coagulation.
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Coagulation
The object of coagulation is to unit several colloidal particles together to form
bigger sized settleable flocs. The floc ions are found to possess the positive electric
charge while all the colloidal particles have negative charge. Therefore the flocs
attract the colloidal particles and cause their removal by settlement at the bottom of
the tank.
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Figure 4: size characteristics for particulates in water and wastewater.
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Common coagulants used
1. Alum and lime
In this case hardness is not produced, but soda ash is more expensive.
3. Ferrous sulfate and lime
4. Ferric chloride
Soft and highly colored water are not effectively treated with alum, when
ferric chloride is added to such water, insoluble ferric hydroxide flocs are
formed.
5. Ferric sulfate
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6. Chlorinated copperas
Jar Test
The jar test is a common laboratory procedure used to determine the optimum
operating conditions for water or wastewater treatment. This method allows
adjustments in pH, variations in coagulant or polymer dose, alternating mixing
speeds, or testing of different coagulant or polymer types, on a small scale in order
to predict the functioning of a large scale treatment operation.
Jar Testing Apparatus
The jar testing apparatus consists of six paddles which stir the contents of six 1
liter containers. A rpm gage at the top-center of the device allows for the uniform
control of the mixing speed in all of the containers.
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Jar Test Procedure
Determination of optimum pH
Fill the jars with raw water sample (1000 mL)
Adjust pH of the jars using H2SO4 or NaOH (pH: 5.0; 5.5; 6.0; 6.5; 7.0; 7.5)
Add same dose of the selected coagulant (alum or iron) to each jar
(Coagulant dose: 5 or 10 mg/L).
Rapid mix each jar at 100 rpm for 1 minute. The rapid mix helps to disperse
the coagulant throughout each container
Reduce the stirring speed to 25 to 30 rpm and continue mixing for 15 to 20
mins (This slower mixing speed helps promote floc formation by enhancing
particle collisions which lead to larger flocs)
Turn off the mixers and allow flocs to settle for 30 to 45 mins
Then measure the final residual turbidity for the supernatant in each jar
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Figure 5: Residual turbidity Versus pH
The coagulant dose with the lowest residual turbidity will be the optimum
coagulant dose (12.5 mg/L)
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Figure 6: Residual turbidity Versus coagulant dose
Coagulant Aids
Coagulant aids are chemicals which are added to water during coagulation to
improve coagulation by:
Example 1:
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Find out the quantity of alum required to treat 18 million liters of water per day.
The dosage of alum is 14 mg/L. Also work out the amount of CO2 released per liter
of treated water.
Solution:
= 53.94+96.198+36.288+480
=666
=44
Example 2:
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What is the amount of natural alkalinity (as CaCO3) required for coagulation of
raw water with dosage of 15.0 mg/L of ferric chloride?
Solution:
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