Environmental Engineering-I

Class Notes

Prof. Dr. Javed Anwar Aziz

Engr. Ghulam Hussain

Institute of Environmental Engineering and Research,

UET, Lahore
COAGULATION
 COAGULATION
• Aggregation of small particles, using
chemicals, to increase their DIAMETERS and
hence SETTLING VELOCITIES.

• In water treatment, it is a chemical technique

for DESTABILIZATION of COLLOIDAL
PARTICLES.
 COAGULATION
PROCESS
A large portion of suspended particles in water
are COLLOIDAL particles. As such their
removal in sedimentation tanks is impossible.
Very fine particles also cannot be removed at
reasonable surface overflow rates.
 COAGULATION
COLLOIDAL PARTICLES
 Are negatively charged
 Repel each other
 Remain in suspension
 Have size from 1-100 MILLIMICRON
COAGULANTS
Coagulants are used to DESTABILIZE the
COLLOIDAL PARTICLES. Coagulants have
DIVALENT or TRIVALENT cations.
COAGULANTS

• Most commonly used coagulant is ALUM.

ALUM Al2(SO4)3.14H2O

Some other coagulants are;

• FeSO4

• Fe2(SO4)3

• FeCl3
COAGULANT ACTION
i. Alum ionizes to give Al3+ and SO2- ions

ii. Al3+ combines with COLLOIDS to REDUCE

NEGATIVE charge.
COAGULANT ACTION
Vander Waal’s forces come in operation and
particles UNITE
COAGULANT ACTION

(iii). Alum Hydrolyzes to give GEL-LIKE Al(OH)3

which develops positive charge by absorbing H+
from solution.
Al2(SO4)3.14H2O + 6HOH 2Al(OH)3 + 3SO2- +
6H+ + 14H2O

(iv). Gel-like Al(OH)3+H also adsorbs SO2- and

some particles and SETTLES
Process of Coagulation
IMPORTANCE OF ALKALINITY
• Hydrolysis of Alum produces H+

• pH drops and formation of Al(OH)3 is stopped

• Natural alkalinity acts as BUFFER

Al2(SO4)3.14H2O + 3Ca(HCO3)2 2Al(OH)3 + 3CaSO4
+ 6CO2 + 14H2O

(Thus for each 1 mg/L of Alum, 0.5 mg/L of

alkalinity is required)
USE OF LIME
• If natural alkalinity is not sufficient, then LIME
is added.
Al2(SO4)3.14H2O + 3Ca(OH)2 2Al(OH)3 + 3CaSO4
+ 14H2O
 PROCESS DEVICES

1. FLASH MIXERS

2. FLOCCULATION TANKS

3. SEDIMENTAION TANKS
FLASH MIXERS

PURPOSE:

Rapid mixing of coagulants in water to

Destabilize Colloidal Particles.
– Detention Time 10-20 sec

– RPM 150-1500

– Velocity Gradient 500 per second

Paddle Mixers, Hydraulic Jump

FLOCCULATION TANKS
Flocculation is a slow mixing process to bring
destabilized particles in contact to form FLOC
which settles down in the Sedimentation Tank.
– Detention Time 20-60 minutes

– RPM 2-15 rpm

– Velocity Gradient 25-65 per second

Flocculators may be Circular Tanks with
Paddles revolving on a vertical shaft, or
Rectangular Tanks with Paddles revolving on a
horizontal shaft. (As shown below in figures)
Area of each paddle 10-20 % of vertical X-Sectional Area
of Tank
 THEORY OF VELOCITY GRADIENT
VELOCITY GRADIENT ‘G’ is the ratio between the
RELATIVE VELOCITY and DISTANCE between the two
fluid particles in flocculator.

V1
d
V2

Flocculation results from the velocity differences in the

water which cause CONTACTS between the moving FLOC
MASSES.
In paddle flocculators, power is applied to rotating
blades and the velocity gradients are set up at the
edge of the blades.

Where ‘G’ is higher, flocculation will be rapid. If

‘G’ is too high, SHEARING FORCE and tend to
shear apart the flocculated particles.
Therefore in flocculators, flocculation should
proceed in stages with LOWER values of ‘G’ as
the water passes through the tank.

This is done by DECREASING PADDLE

VELOCITIES ALONG THE TANK.

Design of flocculation tanks is mostly based

on VELOCITY GRADIENT.
QUANTITY OF COAGULANT

1-100 mg/L (Depending upon raw water quality)

JAR TEST is used to find optimum dose of

coagulant.
 JAR TEST
PROCEDURE
i. Place 1 or 2 L water sample in 6 beakers.
ii. Prepare the solution of the coagulant of such
strength that 1 ml contains 10 mg of the
coagulant.
iii. Add the desired amount of coagulant and lime to
each sample while stirring the sample
vigorously. Continue the flash mixing for 10
seconds.
 JAR TEST
PROCEDURE

iv. Flocculate for 20-30 minutes at 30-40 RPM.

v. Settle the samples for 30 minutes and then

syphon the supernatant for analysis.

vi. Analyze for pH, turbidity, alkalinity etc and

find the optimum dose according to the
desired requirements.