Experiment 1 Coagulation and Flocculation
Experiment 1 Coagulation and Flocculation
1.1
i.
ii.
iii.
1.2
Objective
Suspended solids (particularly colloids) are often removed from water by chemical
coagulation and flocculation. Colloidal particles carry a small electrostatic charge that keeps
them in suspension. Coagulation is the addition of chemicals to neutralize the effect of colloidal
charges and allow aggregation of particles. Following coagulation the suspension is stirred gently
to promote particle collision and agglomeration in a process termed flocculation.
The type of source water will have a large impact on how often jar tests are performed.
Plants which treat groundwater may have very little turbidity to remove are unlikely to be
affected by weather-related changes in water conditions. As a result, groundwater plants may
perform jar tests seldom, if at all, although they can have problems with removing the more
difficult small suspended particles typically found in groundwater. Surface water plants, in
contrast, tend to treat water with a high turbidity which is susceptible to sudden changes in water
quality. Operators at these plants will perform jar tests frequently, especially after rains, to adjust
the coagulant dosage and deal with the changing source water turbidity
1.3
Procedure
Note :
Prior to the jar test procedure each 500ml sample must be corrected to the required pH using
H2SO4 or NaOH .In order to obtain the correct amount of acid or alkali for each sample a
separate titration must be carried out for each alum dose-pH combination. Use 100ml water
samples for your titration.
Determine the pH and turbidity of the raw water.
Test for optimum dose (pH constant
RESULTS :
EXPERIMENT : Optimum dose (pH constant)
Sample volume =
ml
Alum concentration =
Beaker
g/liter
Volume of Alum
(ml)
20
124
10
40
76.7
96.6
15
60
20
80
89.6
25
100
140
DISCUSSION :
CONCLUSION :
QUESTIONS