Coagulant for wastewater treatment: how to choose + rules of use

There are many ways to treat wastewater. When arranging autonomous sewer networks, in addition to installing the usual filters that can filter out harmful substances and make the water cleaner, the precipitation method of cleaning - coagulation - is increasingly used.

We will tell you by what principle the coagulant works for water purification. In the proposed article, all varieties used in practice are described in detail. You will learn what to consider when choosing a tool and how to use it correctly.

The principle of coagulants

Coagulation is a method of water purification by adhesion of polluting dispersed substances for subsequent removal by mechanical method, by filtration. The combination of pollutants occurs due to the introduction of coagulating reagents, creating the conditions for the simplest elimination of related pollutants from the treated water.

The term "coagulatio" in Latin means "thickening" or "coagulation." Coagulants themselves are substances capable of creating insoluble and sparingly soluble compounds through a chemical reaction, which are simpler and easier to remove from water than dispersed components.

The principle of operation of substances is based on the fact that their molecular form has a positive charge, while most contaminants have a negative charge. The presence of two negative charges in the structure of atoms of dirty particles does not allow them to join together. For this reason, dirty water always becomes turbid.

At the moment of introducing a small portion of the coagulant into the liquid, the substance begins to pull up the suspensions present in it. As a result: with an increase in the intensity of scattered light, the liquid becomes more cloudy for a short period of time. After all, one coagulant molecule can easily attract several dirt molecules to itself.

Coagulants provoke the formation of stable bonds between small particles of contaminants and microbes present in water

The attracted dirt molecules begin to react with the coagulant, as a result of which they combine into large complex chemical compounds. Poorly soluble highly porous substances gradually settle to the bottom in the form of a white precipitate.

The owner’s task is only to remove the sediment in time, using any of the types of filtration available to him.

Molecules attracted to each other form large particles, which settle due to their increased weight, and then are removed by filtration

The effectiveness of the drug can be judged by the formation at the bottom of the sediment in the form of white flocculent formations - flocs. Due to this, the term “flocculation” is often used as a synonym for the concept of “coagulation”.

The resulting flakes, the size of which can reach from 0.5 to 3.0 mm, have a large surface with high sorption of the deposited substances

In addition to wastewater treatment, coagulants are used in pool water treatment, in the water treatment of industrial and drinking water in regions with limited water resources. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the possibilities of coagulating chemical compositions, the features of which are described on our website.

The use of reagents: pros and cons

The effectiveness of modern equipment to neutralize impurities in wastewater is not able to reach a maximum level without involving reagents.

Modern coagulants can significantly increase the intensity and quality of the wastewater treatment process. The high cost of reagents pays off for a number of advantages that they possess.

Among the indisputable advantages of using synthetic coagulants, it is worth highlighting:

• efficiency;
• affordable cost;
• high quality cleaning;
• universality of application.

Wastewater is a stable aggressive system. And coagulation helps to destroy it by forming large particles in order to subsequently remove them by filtration.

The use of reagents gives good results in the removal of suspended and colloidal particles from effluents.

In fact, particles of the coagulating phase formed under the influence of coagulants are both the center of flocculation and weighting agent

But the precipitation method using reagents is not without drawbacks. These include:

• the need for strict adherence to dosage;
• the formation of a large volume of secondary waste that requires additional filtration;
• the complexity of establishing the process on their own.

On an industrial scale, coagulation processes are involved everywhere, they are put on stream. To establish a system at home, you will have to purchase special installations, the cost of which is quite high.

Most owners solve this problem by using individual coagulants of a household type, which are sold in small containers.

The active substances are simply added to the liquid, and then the precipitate deposited at the bottom is filtered off; but this process is rather laborious and therefore a lot of time is spent on its implementation

In some cases, coagulation can be carried out directly in mechanical filtration system. For this, the reagent is introduced into the pipeline section with the liquid to be treated before it is fed to the filter. And in this case, foreign particles already “transformed” into flakes enter the filtration system.

The main types of coagulants

There are many types of coagulants. We will not list their formulas in detail in the article. Consider only two main groups, which are divided into organic and inorganic depending on the feedstock.

One category of coagulants is able to ironize water and remove aluminum salts from it, the other can increase or decrease the acid pH, some reagents have a complex effect

Today, many domestic and foreign companies are engaged in the production of coagulants. The reagents of a new generation produced by them differ from the coagulants produced even under the Soviet Union in their improved technical characteristics.

Organic natural substances

They are specially created reagents that, by accelerating the sticking of aggressively unstable particles present in water, facilitate the processes associated with their separation and deposition. Organics help stimulate the incorporation of pollutants into dense suspensions and emulsions that facilitate their removal from water.

High-molecular substances fight chlorine well and effectively eliminate unpleasant “aromas” in a liquid, for example: the smell of hydrogen sulfide, often present in a fermented liquid

When interacting with pollution molecules, organic coagulants are significantly reduced in size. Upon completion of the reaction, they precipitate as a small amount of precipitate.

By minimizing the volume of sediment accumulated at the bottom of the tank, it is much easier and faster to filter. At the same time, a reduced amount of sludge in no way affects the quality of treatment.

Due to the limited raw material base, natural reagents are not widely used in wastewater treatment on an industrial scale.But for domestic purposes they are often used.

Synthetic Coagulating Compounds

These types of reagents are based on mineral and synthetic elements. Polymers contribute to the formation of a high cathode charge, thereby stimulating the rapid appearance of flakes. They perfectly interact with water, providing a complex effect on it: softening its structure, as well as eliminating coarse impurities and salts

The most widely used salts of polyvalent metals created on the basis of iron or aluminum. Iron is used for rough cleaning.

Flocculants - secondary coagulants that turn suspensions and emulsions into flakes are used in conjunction with primary coagulants. The tandem is able to clean both small portions of household waste and large volumes created by industrial enterprises

Among the iron compounds, the most popular are:

• ferric chloride - hygroscopic crystals with a dark metallic luster, perfectly eliminate large particles of contaminants and easily remove the smell of hydrogen sulfide;
• iron sulfate - a crystalline hygroscopic product that dissolves well in water and is effective in the treatment of sewage.

Due to the low level of viscosity at a low molecular weight, such reagents are highly soluble in any type of processed fluid.

Of the coagulants created on the basis of aluminum, the most common are:

• aluminum oxochloride (OXA) - used to treat water with a high content of organic natural substances;
• aluminum hydroxychlorosulfate (GHSA) - perfectly copes with natural wastewater deposits;
• aluminum sulfate - a crude technical product in the form of pieces of gray-green color is used to purify drinking water.

In previous years, polymers were used only as an additive to inorganic coagulants, using them as stimulants to accelerate the formation of flakes. Today, these reagents are increasingly used as the main ones, replacing them with inorganic ones.

If we compare organic and synthetic substances, the former win in the fact that they act much faster. In addition, they are able to function in almost any alkaline environment and do not interact with chlorine.

For the adsorption of salts, ions of heavy metals and other suspensions dissolved in water, a portion of the organic reagent will be required several times less than the synthetic analogue (+)

Organic active compounds also benefit in that they do not change the pH in water. This allows them to be used for water purification, where plankton colonies are present, algae and large microorganisms grow.

Selection Guidelines

The choice of coagulant for wastewater treatment must be approached very carefully. Indeed, although the substance does not pose a danger to human health, it has a rather narrow specialization in its action.

When choosing a coagulant for wastewater treatment, you can also use reference manuals, but before purchasing a consumable, you should still consult with professionals specializing in water treatment.

To protect yourself from disappointment in case of low efficiency of the use of the coagulant, we recommend that you first pass the water for analysis. Laboratory studies will give an idea of ​​the composition and help determine the most appropriate type of treatment.

Knowing the composition of contaminated water, it will be much easier to choose the best option for coagulant, which will help to quickly solve the problem.

Coagulants are quite specific substances. In some cases, they are able to tear off elements of water, in others, on the contrary, enhance their action. For example, the use of an active substance created on the basis of aluminum and iron sulfate is capable of showing a threefold effect: to clear the contents, as well as to defer it and significantly soften it.

When using any type of coagulant, the main thing is to adhere to the dosage recommended by the manufacturer. Too small a portion of the active substance will provoke a reaction, but it will not proceed as intensely as necessary for proper cleaning. The sediment will precipitate slowly, and the liquid will not be cleaned of harmful impurities.

In addition, if the dosage is disturbed, the flakes begin to precipitate unevenly. In this regard, many microflakes are formed in water, which due to their small size are not captured by filters.

Active reagents on the market are presented in the form of granules, fractions and pieces, as well as small shapeless plates

To simplify the task of calculating the required amount of active substance, manufacturers produce coagulants in packages equipped with dispensers, not forgetting to attach detailed instructions for use to them.

Process conditions

The maximum efficiency of wastewater treatment is achieved through an integrated approach to solving the problem. Therefore, when equipping autonomous treatment facilities, coagulation is used in combination with mechanical and biological treatment.

To do this, erect structures consisting of vertical sumps separated by partitions. Due to this, the effluents undergo multi-stage treatment. First they settle, then they are purified by processing by bacteria, and then they enter the chamber where they enter the coagulation process and are filtered at the final stage.

The coagulant can be located in a separate plastic container suspended in the toilet bowl, so that with each flush, reagent particles enter the system along with drains

The installation of specialized equipment, the calculation of the approximate dose of consumables and the initial control at all stages of the wastewater treatment process should be entrusted to professionals.

The coagulation scheme includes three main stages:

1. The introduction of a coagulant into a contaminated liquid.
2. Creating conditions for maximum interaction of the active reagent with impurities.
3. Settling followed by filtering of settled particles.

A necessary condition for the occurrence of coagulation is the equality of particles with an opposite charge. Therefore, in order to achieve the desired result, having received the greatest reduction in effluent turbidity, it is important to observe the concentration of the reagent used.

When using coagulants for wastewater treatment, it should be borne in mind that these substances work only at positive temperature.

The working range of the reagents varies from 10 to 40 ° C, and if the temperature rises above this indicator, the reaction begins to proceed much more slowly

Therefore, it is so important to ensure the stability of heating of the treated water.

To accelerate the coagulation process, substances capable of forming colloidal dispersion systems - flocculants can be added to the composition of water. For this purpose, the most commonly used: starch, polyacrylamide, activated silicate. They will be adsorbed on the coagulant flakes, turning them into stronger and larger aggregates.

The flocculant is introduced into the zone of the contact medium after 1-3 minutes from the moment the coagulant is introduced. By this time, the formation of micro flakes and the subsequent sorption of precipitating substances are completed.

The amount of sludge deposited in the contact tanks depends on the type of reagent used and the degree of pre-treatment of the effluents to be treated.

On average, after mechanical cleaning, the amount of sediment per one person per day is about 0.08 liters, after passing biofilters - 0.05 liters, and after processing in aeration tank - 0.03 liters. It only needs to be removed on time as the tank is full.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The principle of action of the coagulant:

Video presentation of household coagulating products:

Using the coagulation technique, you will get a great opportunity to achieve high results with small investments. Properly approaching the choice of reagent and creating the necessary conditions for its operation, it will not be difficult to purify waste water immediately from a variety of impurities and contaminants.

Have questions in the process of getting acquainted with the information we provided? Do you know the subtleties of using coagulants in practice? Please share your knowledge and impressions, as well as ask questions in the box below.