Treatment FAQ

what are ferric hydroxide flocs used for at a water treatment plant

by Mr. Deron Hessel DDS Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The floc formed with ferric coagulants is heavier than alum floc. The ferric hydroxide floc does not redissolve at high pH values. Ferric coagulants may be used in color removal at the high pH values required for the removal of iron and manganese and in softening of water.

Full Answer

What is the function of ferric chloride in water treatment?

Ferric chloride is a corrosive chemical used in water purification and sewage treatment. The function of ferric chloride is to remove metal substance from the waste that highly possible will harm environment as well as living being. It will dewater the metal works and make it a less dangerous substance.

What is ferric sulphate floc?

Generally the floc formed by the reaction of copperas and lime is feathery and fragile, but has a high specific gravity. Ferric sulphate is available as a commercial water treatment coagulant in the form of an anhydrous material that may be transported and stored in wooden barrels.

Is ferric chloride a flocculant?

One particularly popular flocculant is Ferric Chloride. Ferric Chloride has been commercially available in the United States since the 1930's but it is only in the last 20 years that we've seen a trend of increased acceptance of Ferric Chloride for drinking water treatment.

What is ferric coagulant used for?

Ferric coagulants may be used in color removal at the high pH values required for the removal of iron and manganese and in softening of water.

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What is ferric used for in water treatment?

The primary use of ferric chloride is to remove impurities in water and for wastewater treatment. Ferric chloride is also one of the few water treatment chemicals that can sequester odors.

Why is floc formation used in water treatment?

Used in a wide range of industries and applications, flocculants help to remove suspended solids from wastewater by aggregating contaminants into flakes or “flocs” that float to the surface of the water or settle at the bottom. They can also be used for lime softening, sludge thickening, and solids dehydration.

What is flocs in water treatment?

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. It is a common method of stormwater treatment, wastewater treatment, and in the purification of drinking water.

What is a common use of alum and ferric chloride in drinking water treatment?

Both alum and ferric chloride can be used to generate inorganic polymeric coagulants. These coagulants are typically generated by partially neutralizing concentrated solutions of alum or ferric chloride with a base such as sodium hydroxide prior to their use in the coagulation process (AWWA and ASCE, 1990).

What is the purpose of flocculant?

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 does a flocculant work?

A flocculant is a chemical that can be added to the water to help colloids and any other suspended solids bind together and form heavier particles. The heavier particles then settle to the bottom of the container/tank and the water on the top is drained off.

Why is coagulation important in water treatment?

safe drinking water. 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.

What chemical is used for flocculation?

The iron-based flocculants include ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, ferrous sulfate, and ferric chloride sulfate [15, 69]. Aluminum sulfate or alum (Al2(SO4)3), ferric chloride (FeCl3) and ferric sulfate (Fe(SO4)3) are the most widely used flocculants [1, 70].

What you mean by flocs?

Floc is a small, loosely aggregated mass of flocculent material suspended in or precipitated from a liquid. It consists of finely divided suspended particles in a larger, usually gelatinous particle, the result of physical attraction or adhesion to a coagulant compound.

What is the best coagulant for water treatment?

In summary, ferric sulfate outperformed aluminum-based coagulants in acidic conditions (pH < 6) while aluminum chlorohydrate (basicity of 83 %) was repeatedly noted to be the best coagulant in more alkaline conditions (pH > 7).

What is alum dosing in water treatment?

Alum dosage 3 mg/l at pH 6.4; rapid mix for alum 500 s-1 for 10 s; preflocculation 100 s-1 for 10 min; poly dosage 0.15 mg/l; rapid mix for poly 100 s-1 for 10 s; N0(average) 0.88 NTU; raw water turbidity (average) 2.32 NTU; G1, G2 and G3 100, 50 and 30 s-1 respectively.

What is the difference between alum and ferric chloride?

You will find that alum produces less sludge compared to ferric based coagulant and is more tolerant to temperature and also the optimum range is wider for alum based coagulant. It is important the ionic structure of the water. You can not use alum or ferric chloride for all waters.

What is the best replacement for ferric chloride?

Both large and small plants will see cost savings; the more ATS 806 is used to replace ferric chloride, the larger the savings. It should be noted that both ATS 835 and 806 are potentially excellent replacements for alum or ferric chloride—it’s all dependent on the chemistry.

What is a coagulant in water treatment?

As every water treater knows, coagulants are used in the first step of water treatment; they destabilize the water so micro flocks can begin to form. This is followed up by a polymer, which turns it into a larger flock by creating a bigger charge. Alum and ferric chloride are two widely-used “commodity chemical” coagulants ...

Why is sludge not easy to de-water?

It produces a lot of sludge. Plus, the sludge it creates is not very easy to de-water because it becomes very gelatinous. For example, let’s say a small plant runs at a million gallons a day, feeding 25 parts of alum on a wet basis.

Is ATS 835 soluble in water?

And because ATS 835 is completely soluble, it will hardly increase solids due to the coagulant. Alternatively, if a water treatment plant is using ferric chloride, a recommended replacement product is ATS 806.

Is ferric chloride a competitor for alum?

Some water treaters simply aren’t aware of alternative products. The companies that supply alum and ferric chloride aren’t advertising competing products, and the companies that do sell alternative products struggle to get the word out.

Can alum be used to treat dirty water?

To treat excessively dirty water, simply increasing the alum isn’t going to do anything. For example, to treat muddy water like that from the Mississippi, even 250 parts of alum isn’t going to cut it. Alum just doesn’t work in very dirty water. It produces a lot of sludge.

Is ATS 806 better than ferric chloride?

This product is not only a successful replacement but also offers a much better quality of water for the same dollars spent. ATS 806 removes much more total organic carbon than either alum or ferric chloride. And while it may be a bit more expensive than the ferric, the amount needed is roughly only 25% of the amount of ferric required, ...

What is a floc in water treatment?

Flocs in Water Treatment is the first of its kind - serving as a valuable aide-memoire for scientists, process engineers and other professionals engaged in water treatment. The framework described in Flocs in Water Treatment can also be applied to aggregated solids found both in the natural environment, and within a broad range of industries. Flocs (aggregated solid matter) resulting from the combined influence of coagulation and flocculation play a vital role in solid-liquid separation processes. The design and operation of water treatment plants demands a proper understanding of the ways in which flocs affect treatment systems and how their properties can be manipulated to increase treatment efficiency. Flocs in Water Treatment provides a comprehensive account of the ways in which flocs are formed, their characterization, and how they behave in practice. Flocs are complex entities, whose properties defy easy description and measurement. In spite of this, the authors provide a clear and discerning account of the current state of knowledge; this is rooted in science and draws on many disciplines. Based on their experiences in research and the workings of full scale treatment plants, the authors offer candid advice on tasks such as the measurement of floc properties and guidance on problems involving the use of chemicals for controlling floc properties within treatment systems. This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series ISBN: 9781843390633 (Print) ISBN: 9781780402000 (eBook)

What is flocculation in process engineering?

Flocculation is a widely used phase separation technique in industrial unit processes and is typically observed in many natural flow systems. Advances in colloidal chemistry over the past decades has vastly improved our understanding of this phenomenon. However, in many practical applications, process engineering still lags developments in colloidal science thereby creating a gap in knowledge. While significant progress has been made in environmental process engineering research over the past decades, there is still a need to align these two inter-dependent fields of research more closely. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the flocculation mechanism from empirical and theoretical perspective, discuss its practical applications, and examines the need and direction of future research.

What is the purpose of coagulation flocculation?

In water treatment, the primary objective of coagulationflocculation process is to gather the finely divided matter suspended in the raw water within large flocs that can settle rapidly. However, because of the fractal organization of flocs, the aggregate growth is necessarily accompanied by a decrease in floc density which impairs the performance of floc settling (Bache and Gregory, 2007; Tambo and Watanabe, 1979). Such effect becomes particularly challenging for coloured raw waters rich in humic substances, that lead to light and fragile structures with poor settling characteristics (Eikebrokk, 1999;Jarvis et al., 2005;Sieliechi et al., 2008). ...

What is the chemical used in wastewater treatment?

A chemical that is also present in wastewater treatment plant is ferric chloride. Ferric chloride is a corrosive chemical used in water purification and sewage treatment. The function of ferric chloride is to remove metal substance from the waste that highly possible will harm environment as well as living being.

What is the function of sodium hydroxide in wastewater treatment?

In wastewater treatment plant, sodium hydroxide has some functions such as ph stabilizer, metal precipitant and alkaline cleaner. The combination of sodium, hydrogen,and dioxide makes this chemical works well for wastewater treatment especially for the critical waste and potentially pollutant one.

What is the most important element in water purification?

Also read: Harmful Effects of Oxidizing Chemicals for Environmental Health. Sodium Aluminate. The next chemical used in wastewater treatment plant is sodium aluminate. Sodium aluminate is a chemical belongs to inorganic compound.

What is wastewater treatment plant?

Wastewater treatment plant itself is a process of removing waste and dirts. This also works as a system to offer soluble and environmentally result of industrial waste. The contaminants in the sewage are removed and in turn produced safer wastewater for the environment. In order to do so, this treatment needs some chemicals as listed in the list ...

What can lower the pH in water?

If the ph is higher, people can use hydrochloric acid as one of the compounds to lower the ph in water.

What chemicals lower pH?

While some chemicals work to elevate ph level, there are also chemicals to lower it. One of them is hydrochloric acid. While the chemical has many uses in industry, it also works for wastewater treatment. Its function is to lower the ph of the wastewater.

Is ferrous choride corrosive?

Moreover, it also has the corrosiveness of its sibling ferric chloride. Therefore, it is also effective to get rid of metal chemical from wastewater. In wastewater product, ferrous choride often comes together with other chemicals in wastewater treatment plant such as alum and polymer. Hydrochloric Acid.

What is flocculant in water?

A flocculant is a substance that promotes the clumping of particles so that they may be removed from water. Flocculants are essential in proper water treatment. One particularly popular flocculant is Ferric Chloride.

What is the best way to store ferric chloride?

For safe storage, we recommend a high-density crosslinked polyethylene tank. Ferric chloride is also a high fuming chemical. These fumes can potentially defoliate surrounding trees and plants. When storing Ferric Chloride in a chemical storage tank, a fume-tight manway lid cover prevents fumes from escaping the tank.

Is ferric chloride a pure iron?

As one of the purest and most concentrated forms of iron commercially available for water treatment, Ferric Chloride has a unique distinction. In order to produce Ferric Chloride, Ferrous Chloride must be used. It is the oxidation of Ferrous Chloride with Chlorine that creates this new compound.

Is ferric chloride a coagulant?

Ferric Chloride offers versatility in the water treatment industry, by working as a flocculant and coagulant, as well as a reactant. It promotes faster sedimentation in general and specifically, better sedimentation in cold water, making it an ideal choice for the industry.

What are the advantages of hydroxides?

They offer a number of advantages: Enable highly charged ions to give a high charge density to neutralise suspended particles, which allows hydrated inorganic hydroxides to form and produce short polymer chains that enhance microfloc formation and heavy floc.

What is the purpose of coagulation and flocculation?

Coagulation and flocculation are essential components of both drinking water and wastewater treatment. They provide a reliable process for treating water turbidity (the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid typically invisible to the naked eye) which is a key test of water quality.

What is the difference between flocculation and coagulation?

Coagulation and flocculation are two, separate, crucial parts of water and wastewater treatment. Coagulation destabilises the minute suspended particles by static charge neutralisation, while flocculation helps them to bind together to form much bigger morphologies, so they can be more easily separated from the liquid phase.

What coagulants remove suspended solids?

Organic coagulants. Both polyamine and poly-DADMAC coagulants have been proven to be very effective at removing most suspended solids. Tannates are particularly good at oils and fats. Enable relatively low charge density to neutralise lower charged suspended particles, more effectively.

What destroys the process whereby tiny particles repel each other and promotes their consolidation to bigger ones that are able

The coagulation process. This destroys the process whereby tiny particles repel each other and promotes their consolidation to bigger ones that are able to stick together. The bigger the particle, the easier it is to separate from the liquid.

What are the two types of coagulants?

Types of coagulants. Today, there are two types of coagulants that are most commonly used in water and wastewater treatment. Organic and inorganic. Inorganic coagulants include: Iron coagulants - e.g. ferric sulphate, ferrous sulphate, ferric chloride and ferric chloride sulphate. Organic coagulants include:

How long does it take for a suspended particle to settle out of the water?

This causes them to remain suspended rather than clumping together and settling out of the water. They might take days or even up to centuries to settle out! Coagulation and flocculation are two separate processes, used in succession, to overcome the forces stabilising the suspended particles. While coagulation neutralises the charges on ...

How does orthokinetic flocculation work?

Orthokinetic flocculation arises from induced velocity gradients in the liquid. It is here that primary particles are induced to approach close enough together, make contact and progressively form larger agglomerates, or flocs. The principal parameter governing the rate of orthokinetic flocculation is the velocity gradient applied. The degree or extent of flocculation is governed by both applied velocity gradients and time of flocculation. These two parameters influence the rate and extent of particle aggregation and the rate and extent of breakup of these aggregates.

What is the best coagulant for organics removal?

Organics removal and enhanced coagulation are effective with traditional coagulants like aluminum sulfate, ferric chloride and ferric sulfate, as well as formulations like polyaluminum chloride (PACl) and acid alum. Acid alum formulations are aluminum sulfate with 1 to 15-percent free sulfuric acid.

What happens when you add coagulants to water?

When metal coagulants are added to water the metal ions (Al and Fe) hydrolyze rapidly but in a somewhat uncontrolled manner, forming a series of metal hydrolysis species. The efficiency of rapid mixing, the pH, and the coagulant dosage determine which hydrolysis species is effective for treatment.

What are some examples of coagulation operations?

Coagulation operations can be useful in some cases for the removal of inorganics. Examples of successful applications are copper and mercury reductions from wastewaterplant effluents. Two applications discussed in more detail below are arsenic and fluoride removals in potable water treatment:

When was alum used in water?

As early as 2000 BC the Egyptians used almonds smeared around vessels to clarify river water. The use of alum as a coagulant by the Romans was mentioned in around 77 AD. By 1757, alum was being used for coagulation in municipal water treatment in England.

Why is coagulation important?

Coagulation is also important in several wastewater treatment operations. A common example is chemical phosphorus removal and another, in overloaded wastewatertreatment plants, is the practice of chemically enhancing primary treatment to reduce suspended solids and organic loads from primary clarifiers.

Why are synthetic polymers more effective than flocculants?

They are, in general, more effective as flocculants because of the level of control made possible during manufacture. Important mechanisms relating to polymers during treatment include electrostatic and bridging effects.

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