TSWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND METALLURGICAL

ENGINEERING

REPORT GRADING FORM

Name of student : Jan Hendrik Roberts

Student number : 211236728

FLOCCULATION AND COAGULATION

3nd Semester
2012

2 Mei

Index :

Introduction p1
Theoretical background p1
Procedure p2,3
Results p4
Graphs experiment 1 p5-12
Graph experiment 2 p13
Abstract p14
Discussion of results p14
Conclusion and recommendation p 14
Literal cited

Introduction :

Raw caused by tiny clay and silt particles. These particles have
natural electric charges which keeps them in motion and
prevents them from colliding and sticking together. Coagulants
are chemicals which are added to the water to neutralize the
charges on the particles which helps the particles to collide and
stick together and form larger particles.

Theoretical Background :
Coagulation is the chemical alteration of colloidal particles to
help them stick together and form larger particles called flocs.
Flocculation is a physical process that gives assistance in the
growth of larger particles. These processes are used to remove
suspended matter and colour.
Jar tests are the most effective way to determine the correct
coagulant, the minimum dose ,and best operating PH for
coagulation and flocculation. Aluminium or iron salts are usually
used to coagulate particles to form flocs.
The objectives of the 2 experiments are :
To do the jar test on natural surface water to determine
the best dosage of aluminium sulphate needed for the
removal of suspended matter and colour.
To observe the rate of sedimentation and flocculation.

Procedure :
Experiment 1 :
Collect 800 ml of surface water in 4 beakers.
Measure the PH and turbidity of the water.
Add 20 g of CaCO3 in each beaker.
Mix at 20 rpm to ensure that the water is completely mixed.
Throw 3g, 6g, 9g, and 12 g of Al2SO3 simultaneously into each
beaker and mix at 250 rpm for 1 min.
Measure the PH and turbidity of each sample.
Mix at 60 rpm for 9 minutes.
Measure the PH and turbidity of each sample.
Mix at 25 rpm for 4 minutes.
Measure the PH and turbidity of each sample.
Mix at 10 rpm for 2 minutes.
Measure the PH and turbidity of each sample.
Turn mixer of and leave samples for 20 minutes.
Measure the PH and turbidity of each sample.
Measure depth of sludge in each beaker.

Experiment 2 :
Collect 800 ml of surface water in 4 beakers.
Measure the PH and turbidity of the water.
Add 20 g of CaCO3 in each beaker.
Mix at 20 rpm to ensure that the water is completely mixed.
Adjust the PH of each sample to 6, 7, 8, and 9 by using NaOH or
H2SO4.
Throw optimum dosage of Al2SO3 observed in experiment 1 in
each sample simultaneously and mix at 250 rpm for 1 min.
Measure the PH and turbidity of each sample.
Mix at 60 rpm for 9 minutes.
Measure the PH and turbidity of each sample.
Mix at 25 rpm for 4 minutes.
Measure the PH and turbidity of each sample.
Mix at 10 rpm for 2 minutes.
Measure the PH and turbidity of each sample.
Turn mixer of and leave samples for 20 minutes.
Measure the PH and turbidity of each sample.
Measure depth of sludge in each beaker.

Results :
Table 1 :

PH :
250 RPM for 1
Turbidit
min
y:
PH :
60RPM for 9
Turbidit
min
y:
PH :
25 RPM for 4
Turbidit
min
y:
PH :
10 RPM for 2
Turbidit
min
y:
PH :
0 RPM for 20
Turbidit
min
y:
Length of waste at bottom :

Initial PH is 7.31
3g
6g
9g
Al2SO4 Al2SO4
Al2SO4
12g Al2SO4
Beaker
Beaker
1
Beaker 2 3
Beaker 4
5.73
5.98
6.17
6.42
256
6.71

771
6.37

633
6.29

538
6.17

675
6.92

578
6.64

799
6.73

634
6.69

985
6.99

852
6.7

727
6.67

916
6.62

593
6.96

422
6.57

737
6.47

979
6.52

65
1.3 cm

24.6
1.7 cm

27.5
1.6 cm

60.1
1.4 cm

PH = 6
6g
Al2SO4
Beaker 1
5.5

PH = 7
6g
Al2SO4
Beaker 2
6.45

PH = 8
6g
Al2SO4
Beaker 3
6.55

PH = 9
6g
Al2SO4
Beaker 4
6.38

689
6.28

495
7.14

539
6.74

530
6.67

577
6.58

478
7.34

530
6.95

598
6.81

891
6.7

641
7.31

860
6.86

942
6.88

840
6.28

612
7.02

982
6.75

234
6.75

111

14.1

70.2

27.9

Table 2 :

250 RPM for 1

min

60RPM for 9 min

25 RPM for 4
min
10 RPM for 2
min
0 RPM for 20
min

PH :
Turbidity
:
PH :
Turbidity
:
PH :
Turbidity
:
PH :
Turbidity
:
PH :
Turbidity
:

Length of waste at bottom :

1.1 cm

2.2 cm

1.3 cm

0.9 cm

Data analysis :
Experiment 1 :
Inverse turbidity vs. dosage.

inverse turbidity vs dosage at 1 min

12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

inv t vs dosage at 9 mins

0
0
inv t vs dosage at 9
mins

0
0
0
2

10

12

14

5.5

ins t vs dosage at 4 mins

0
0
0
ins t vs dosage at 4
mins

0
0
0
0
0
0
2

10

12

14

inv t vs dosage at 2 mins

0
0
0
inv t vs dosage at 2
mins

0
0
0
0
0
0
2

10

12

14

inv t vs dosage at 20 mins

0.05
0.04
0.04
0.03

inv t vs dosage at 20
mins

0.03
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.01
0
2

10

12

14

Time vs. dosage :

turbidity vs dosage at 1 min

900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0

t vs d at 1 min

10

12

14

t vs d at 9 mins
900
800
700
600

t vs d at 9 mins

500
400
300
200
100
0
2

10

12

14

t vs d at 4 mins
1200
1000
800

t vs d at 4 mins

600
400
200
0
2

10

12

14

t vs d at 2 mins
1200
1000
800

t vs d at 2 mins

600
400
200
0
2

10

12

14

t vs d at 20 mins
70
60
50
t vs d at 20 mins

40
30
20
10
0
2

10

Inverse turbidity vs. time :

12

14

inv t vs time for beaker 1

0.02
0.02
0.01
0.01

inv t vs time for

beaker 1

0.01
0.01
0.01
0
0
0
0

10

15

20

25

inv t vs time for beaker 2

0.05
0.04
0.04
0.03

inv t vs time for

beaker 2

0.03
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.01
0
0

10

15

20

25

inv t vs time for beaker 3

0.04
0.04
0.03
inv t vs time for
beaker 3

0.03
0.02
0.02
0.01
0.01
0
0

10

15

20

25

inv t vs time for beaker 4

0.02
0.02
0.01
0.01

inv t vs time for

beaker 4

0.01
0.01
0.01
0
0
0
0

10

15

20

25

Log inverse turbidity vs. time :

log inv t vs time for beaker 1

0
-0.5

10

15

20

25

-1

log inv t vs time for

beaker 1

-1.5
-2
-2.5
-3
-3.5

log inv t vs time for beaker 2

0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
-2
-2.5
-3
-3.5

10

15

20

25
log ins t vs time for
beaker 2

log inv t vs time for beaker 3

0
-0.5

10

15

20

25

-1

log ins t vs time for

beaker 3

-1.5
-2
-2.5
-3
-3.5

log inv t vs time for beaker 4

0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
-2
-2.5
-3
-3.5

10

15

20

25
log ins t vs time for
beaker 4

Experiment 2 :
Turbidity vs. PH :
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
6.2

6.3

6.4

6.5

6.6

6.7

6.8

6.9

7.1

Abstract :
Coagulation and flocculation are two very important processes
in wastewater and water treatment. Coagulation helps
suspended solids two stick together to form flocs and
flocculation increases the size of the flocs , and then the solids
can settle out of the water. Coagulation has two important
mechanisms namely : charge neutralization and bridging.
Charge neutralizing occurs when the coagulant neutralizes the
charges on suspended colloidal particles. Bridging is when the
colloidal particles stick together by virtue of macromolecules
formed by the coagulant. When aluminium sulphate is added to
water, it dissolves to form Al3+ and SO42-. Lime is added to raise
the PH to get the desirable forms aluminium hydroxide. Jar
tests are used to choose the best coagulant and the minimum
dose.
Discussion of results :
In experiment 1 the reaction order is 1st order and in
experiment 2 its 2nd order. Aluminium sulphate is a very good
coagulant when the PH is neutral. In experiment 1 the 2 nd
beaker had the clearest colour thus the optimum dosage of
aluminium sulphate is 6 g. In experiment 2 the 2nd beaker with
the PH of 7 had the most settled solids.
Conclusion and recommendation :
I would recommend to use 6 g of aluminium sulphate with 20 g
of carbon hydroxide in normal surface water treatment to settle
out the suspended solids.
Literal cited :
Introduction to chemical engineering 3rd edition.
Chemical engineering plant IIIA laboratory guide.
Water.me.vccs.edu/courses/env115/coagulation.htm
Nptel.iitm.ac.in/courses/webcourse-contents/iitkanpur/wastewater/lecture%209.htm