For many years, engineers and manufacturers have looked for fast and cost-effective wastewater treatment. One of the simplest and most effective processes for dewatering sludge and removing sediments is flocculation. This is the process when microscopic particles bind together to create larger particles in liquids. Read on to learn more about the process and its benefits for several applications.
How does flocculation work?
The process is usually used to separate visible sediments and to treat colloids. It occurs when tiny particles lose their repelling forces and begins to bind with one another, forming “flakes” or “flocs.” Flocculation is ideal for removing microscopic dust particles, dirt, and other airborne substances that cause cloudiness in water or other solutions. These tiny particles may affect the water’s appearance, texture, and taste, which may cause illnesses. The process may also change the chemical and biological behavior of sediments, which alters their reaction with contaminants and nutrients around the flakes.
Some standard solutions used in flocculation are swimming pool water and wastewater, as these usually have high flocculated levels for purity. People can also use flocculation in applications such as brewing and ink-making. Flocculation is also applicable in the food industry. For example, flocculation can determine the length of cheese fermentation and yeast brewing.
In some cases, people use a filter press, and a chemical substance called a “flocculant” to start the process and input a positive charge in the materials. Some examples of flocculants include iron, aluminum, calcium, and magnesium. The polymers absorb the particles, which causes them to form clumps and flocs. People remove these clumps and purify the water through traditional filtration methods.
What are the benefits of flocculation?
This water treatment process offers several benefits. It removes contaminants and loose, airborne particles that cause illnesses. It provides clear water free from cloudy chlorine or other chemicals. Compared to traditional filtration methods, flocculation is simple and easy to manage. This process can be done in a laboratory or in a field. The process may take a few minutes to several hours, depending on the quantity of the solution. Adding deflocculants to the solution can also alter or stop the process. These stop the effects of flocculation, add a negative charge, and keep these particles in the solution.
Flocculation also controls or prevents mineral, lime, and algae staining on treated systems, which helps maintain and operate equipment more efficiently. It also keeps sediment materials or flocs at the top of the filter, which reduces frequent maintenance cycles and back-washing time. Due to lesser maintenance and back-washing time, flocculation also reduces energy consumption and the costs used to reheat the water for purification processes.
What are other alternatives for water purification?
Although clay flocculant can be beneficial, it also has certain drawbacks. It is only applicable to liquids and is not usable on metals or other substances. Not all flocculants also have the same reactions with the exact solutions or identical conditions. These are the reasons engineers and manufacturers stick to traditional purification processes. For example, some people use sedimentation and filtration to remove the particles in the solution. Some also use disinfection to kill pathogens that might have survived the flocculation process.