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Flocculation is a process whereby small particles in suspension are caused to aggregate, giving large clusters (flocs) that are much more easily separated than the original particles. The process is in widespread use in many industrial applications.
What is the meaning of flocculation?
Flocculation, in the field of chemistry, is a process by which colloidal particles come out of suspension to sediment under the form of floc or flake, either spontaneously or due to the addition of a clarifying agent.
What is meant by coagulation and flocculation?
Coagulation-flocculation: The use of chemical reagents to destabilise and increase the size of the particles; mixing; increasing of flog size, A physical separation of the solids from the liquid phase. This separation is usually achieved by sedimentation (decantation), flotation or filtration.
Why is flocculation important?
Used water can contain significant amounts of suspended particulate matter, which often takes long to sediment. Flocculation expedites sedimentation and ensures efficient solid/liquid separation.
Is flour a coagulant?
Flour proteins (gluten) The coagulation of gluten is what happens when bread bakes; that is, it is the firming or hardening of these gluten proteins, usually caused by heat, which solidify to form a firm structure. A protein composite present in cereal grains, especially wheat, but also found in barley, oats, and rye.
What can be used as a flocculant?
The following natural products are used as flocculants:
- Chitosan.
- Isinglass.
- Moringa oleifera seeds (Horseradish Tree)
- Gelatin.
- Strychnos potatorum seeds (Nirmali nut tree)
- Guar gum.
- Alginates (brown seaweed extracts)
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.
Why is flocculation important for treating water?
Conventional coagulation–flocculation-sedimentation practices are essential pretreatments for many water purification systems—especially filtration treatments. These processes agglomerate suspended solids together into larger bodies so that physical filtration processes can more easily remove them.
What is difference between flocculation and Deflocculation?
The key difference between flocculation and deflocculation is that flocculation is the formation of flocs by the clumping of fine particles, whereas deflocculation is the dispersion of flocs to form a stable colloid. Flocculation refers to the formation of clumps from fine particles in a colloid.
What is flocculation of soil?
Definition. Flocculation – process during which particles, for example, of a soil, dispersed in a solution contact and adhere each another, forming clusters, flocks, flakes, or clumps of a larger size. Flocculation is synonymous with agglomeration and coagulation.
What is the principle of flocculation?
Coagulation – flocculation is physico-chemical process that facilitates the agglomeration of fine particles (colloids) contained in water to form a floc that can be easily filtered from water. Effluent (waste water) must be treated before it is discharged or before the water is re-used.
What chemical is used for flocculation?
Chemicals (coagulants) are added to the water to bring the nonsettling particles together into larger, heavier masses of solids called floc. Aluminum sulfate (alum) is the most common coagulant used for water purification. Other chemicals, such as ferric sulfate or sodium aluminate, may also be used.
Is Salt a flocculant?
5.1. Inorganic salts of multivalent metals are effective flocculants. The multivalent metal cations in these salts neutralize the cell surface charge and bridge cells together to facilitate flocculation [15, 66].
What is an example of flocculation?
Flocculation and coagulation treatment chemicals are used in effluent wastewater water treatment processes for solids removal, water clarification, lime softening, sludge thickening, and solids dewatering. Examples of ChemTreat coagulation products include aluminum salts, iron salts, and polyelectrolytes.
What causes coagulation?
Blood vessels shrink so that less blood will leak out. Tiny cells in the blood called platelets stick together around the wound to patch the leak. Blood proteins and platelets come together and form what is known as a fibrin clot. The clot acts like a mesh to stop the bleeding.
Does flocculant affect pH?
Because flocculants can affect the pH level, you’ll want to start out with it at about 7.0 so you can make sure your sanitizer keeps working at maximum efficiency.
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.
Why is it important to treat flocculation in water?
While coagulation can remove particles and some dissolved matter, the water may still contain pathogens. It is, however, an important primary step in the water treatment process, because coagulation removes many of the particles, such as dissolved organic carbon, that make water difficult to disinfect.
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.
What is an example of coagulation?
Examples of Coagulation Milk proteins coagulate to thicken the mixture that forms yogurt. Blood platelets coagulate blood to seal a wound. Pectin gels (coagulates) a jam. Gravy coagulates as it cools.
What is the difference between flocculant and coagulant?
Depending on the charge and chemical composition of your wastewater, flocculants can either be used on their own or in combination with coagulants. Flocculants differ from coagulants in that they are often polymers, whereas coagulants are typically salts.
What is Peptization give an example?
Peptization is the method of producing stable colloids using an electrolyte to split up and distribute a precipitate into the colloids. Example: When the ferric chloride is added to the precipitate of ferric hydroxide, the hydroxide precipitate transfer to the sol by absorbing ferric ions.
How fast does flocculant work?
How Long Does It Take to Work? The beauty of flocculants is that they work fast. Your pool can be cleaned in 24 hours, whereas with a clarifier, it takes a few days for the filter to do its job.
Where is flocculation used?
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.
What is flocculation test?
A Flocculation Test Procedure is used to determine how much Flocculants need be added to solids in suspension (slurry or pulp) to cause the individual particles to collect in the form of flocs. The formation of flocs aids in improved settling rates, better overhead clarity and/or faster filtration rates.
