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Surface chemistry. In colloid chemistry, flocculation refers to the process by which fine particulates are caused to clump together into a floc. The floc may then float to the top of the liquid (creaming), settle to the bottom of the liquid (sedimentation), or be readily filtered from the liquid.
What is floc made of?
These little particles are too light to sink to the bottom and are often too small to be caught by your filter. What are they made of? Dust, pollen, dander, body oils, make-up, urine, nitrates, high alkalinity, high calcium, yadda, yadda, yadda.
What is floc and why is it important?
Applying flocculation ensures a high flux over filtration units as well as efficient and cost effective separation of cell material from supernatant. Used water can contain significant amounts of suspended particulate matter, which often takes long to sediment.
How does flocculation occur?
Flocculation is a process by which a chemical coagulant added to the water acts to facilitate bonding between particles, creating larger aggregates which are easier to separate. The method is widely used in water treatment plants and can also be applied to sample processing for monitoring applications.
How is floc removed?
Coagulation and flocculation occur in successive steps intended to overcome the forces stabilising the suspended particles, allowing particle collision and growth of flocs, which then can be settled and removed (by sedimentation) or filtered out of the water.
What is the difference between flocculant and coagulant?
Coagulation is a chemical process. Flocculation is a physical process. Coagulants such as inorganic salts of aluminum or iron that neutralize the suspended particles are added during coagulation. Flocculant such as an organic polymer that involves in bridging and strengthening the flocs is added.
Is flocculant and clarifier the same thing?
The main difference between the flocculant and pool clarifier is where the clumped particles go. You can also leave the pool filter off overnight while the pool floc goes to work, which is one less thing to do. Flocculant also works much faster than the pool clarifier.
What makes a good flocculant?
Polymers are useful as flocculants because they are robust molecules and sometimes carry charges. Because they are so large, small particles can get trapped in the curves of the polymer causing them to accumulate a mass heavy enough to prevent their retention in solution.
What is floc used for?
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.
What floc means?
Floc is a small, loosely aggregated mass of flocculent material suspended in or precipitated from a liquid. Flocs are formed from a combination of suspended materials in the raw water together with adsorbed and precipitated solids gained via coagulation.
How can flocculation be prevented?
When particles of a suspension come close together they can form aggregates called flocculates which will settle more rapidly. To prevent that we often coat the particle with a charged surfactant. The charge (Zeta potential) acts to keep the particles separate and prevent flocculation.
Is alum a coagulant or flocculant?
To accomplish this, the water is treated with aluminum sulfate, commonly called alum, which serves as a flocculant. Raw water often holds tiny suspended particles that are very difficult for a filter to catch. Alum causes them to clump together so that they can settle out of the water or be easily trapped by a filter.
What is flocculation wastewater?
Flocculation is a water treatment process where solids form larger clusters, or flocs, to be removed from water. This process can happen spontaneously, or with the help of chemical agents. One of the requirements for treated water leaving wastewater plants is the removal of suspended solids.
How is chloride removed from wastewater?
At high concentrations, chloride can harm fish and plant life. But there’s no easy and affordable way to remove chloride in wastewater. It would require reverse osmosis, the same process used to produce water for laboratory use, which is technically difficult as well as costly.
When should I floc my pool?
If you’re planning a pool party in a few hours, or if your pool is super cloudy and dirty, then flocculants are definitely the way to go. You can pour them in and get to cleaning. But if you’re not in any hurry, a clarifier is a better option because you simply pour it in and let it work.
How are suspended impurities removed from water?
Filtration is a physical process that removes these impurities from water by percolating it downward through a layer or bed of porous, granular material such as sand. Suspended particles become trapped within the pore spaces of the filter media, which also remove harmful protozoa and natural colour.
Is gypsum a flocculant?
Gypsum can coagulate or bridge clay particles, which accelerates settling. Flocculants should be used to prevent damage to sensitive water resources such as ponds, lakes and trout streams or whenever turbidity control is required. The best thing to do is a jar or bucket test using slightly varying rates of gypsum.
What is the best coagulant?
The best coagulant is therefore a pre-hydrolysed species with a high basicity. PACl has been found to be very suitable for lime softening applications.
Is FeCl3 a coagulant?
Ferric chloride (FeCl3) is the most common iron salt used to achieve coagulation. Its reactions in the coagulation process are similar to those of alum, but its relative solubility and pH range differ significantly from those of alum. Both alum and ferric chloride can be used to generate inorganic polymeric coagulants.
How fast does flocculant work?
Flocculant, although fast-acting, will still need around 8-16 hours to work its magic. It’s easiest to do this overnight. The pump definitely needs to be off as you want the water to be still. The floc will have settled at the bottom of the pool and will require manual vacuuming to remove the debris.
Can you use too much flocculant?
Flocculant is aluminum sulfate, which is designed to clump with the particles you’re trying to remove. But if you add too much, the flocculant will start to agglomerate with itself instead of those particles. These flocculant clumps will not drop to the pool floor and can clog up your filter.
How do I make my pool water crystal clear?
So the best way to have a crystal clear pool is prevention. Keep the chemical levels within the ideal ranges. Check the flow meter to be sure the pool is circulating water at a proper flow rate. Brush the walls and floor weekly. Keep a preventative amount of algaecide in the pool.
