OBJECTIVE:

To determine the optimum alum dose for suspended solids removal from water using jar test

THEORY:
Raw water or wastewater must be treated to remove turbidity, color and
bacteria.Colloidal particles are in the size range between dissolved substance and suspended
particles. The particles are too small to be removed by sedimentation or by normalfiltration
processes. Colloidal particles exhibit the Tyndall effect; that is, when light passes through
liquid containing colloidal particles, the light is reflected by the particles.The degree to which
colloidal suspension reflects light at 90º angle to the entrance beamis measured by turbidity.
The unit of measure is a Turbidity Unit (TU) or NephlometricTurbidity Unit (NTU). It is
determined by reference to a chemical mixture that produces areproducible refraction of light.
Turbidities in excess of 5 TU are easily detectable in aglass of water and are usually
objectionable for aesthetic reasons. For a given particlesize, the higher the turbidity, the
higher the concentration of colloidal particles.

Color is a useful term that is used to describe a solution state. But it is difficult to
distinguish ‘dissolved color’ and ‘colloidal color’. Some color is caused by colloidal ironor
manganese complexes. Although, the most common cause of color is from complex organic
compounds that originate from the decomposition of organic matter. Most color seems to be
between 3.5 and 10μm, which is colloidal. Color is measured by the ability of the solution to
absorb light. Color particles can be removed by the methods discussed for dissolved or
colloidal, depending upon the state of the color.

Finely dispersed solid (colloids) suspended in wastewater are stabilized by negative

electric charges on their surfaces, causing them to repel each other. Since this prevents these
charged particles from colliding to form larger masses, called flocs, they do not settle. To
assists in the removal of colloidal particles form suspension, chemical coagulations and
flocculation are required. These processes, usually done in sequence,are a combination of
physical and chemical procedures. Chemicals are mixed with wastewater to promote the
aggregation of the suspended solids into particles large enough to settle or be removed.
Coagulation is the destabilization of colloids by neutralizing the forces that keep them apart.
Cationic coagulants provide positive electric charges to reduce the negative charge of the
colloids. As a result, the particles collide to form larger particles (floc). Rapid mixing is
required to disperse the coagulant through out the liquid. The coagulants overdose can cause a
complete charge reversal and destabilize the colloid complex.

A coagulant is the substance (chemical) that is added to the water to accomplish

coagulation. There are three key properties of a coagulant;

1. Trivalent cation: As indicated in the last section, the colloids most commonly found
in natural waters are negatively charged; hence a cation is required to neutralize the charge. A
trivalent cation is the most efficient cation.

2. Nontoxic: This requirement is obvious for the production of safe water.

3. Insoluble in the neutral pH range. The coagulant that is added must precipitate out
of solution so that high concentrations of the ion are not left in the water. Such precipitation
greatly assists the colloid removal process.

The two most commonly used coagulants are aluminum (Al³⁺) and ferric iron(Fe³⁺).
Both meet above three requirements. Aluminum can be purchased as either dry or liquid alum
[Al₂(SO₄)₃·14H₂O]. Commercial alum has an average molecular weight of 594. When alum
added to a water containing alkalinity, the following reaction occurs;

Al₂(SO₄)₃·14H₂O+ 6HCO¯₃↔ 2Al(OH)₃(s) + 6CO₂+ 14H₂O + 3SO₄²¯

The above reaction shifts the carbonate equilibrium and decreases the pH. When
sufficient alkalinity is not present to neutralize the sulfuric acid production, the pH may be
greatly reduced;

Al₂(SO₄)₃·14H₂O ↔ 2Al(OH)₃(s) + 3H₂SO₄+ 8H₂O

If the second reaction occurs, lime or sodium carbonate may be added to neutralize the
acid. The optimal pH range for alum is approximately 5.5 to 6.5 with coagulation possible
between pH 5to pH 8 under some conditions.

In flocculation process, the flocculating agent is added by slow and gentle mixing to
allow for contact between the small flocs and to agglomerate them into larger particles.The
newly formed agglomerated particles are quite fragile and can be broken apart by shear forces
during mixing. Increasing the dosage will increase the tendency of the floc to float and not
settle. Once suspended particles are flocculated into larger particles, theycan usually be
removed from the liquid by sedimentation, provided that a sufficient density difference exists
between the suspended matter and liquid. When a filtering process is used, the addition of a
flocculants may not be required since the particles formed by the coagulation reaction may be
of sufficient size to allow removal. The flocculation reaction not only increases the size of the
floc particles to settle them faster, but also affects the physicals nature of the floc, making
these particles less gelatinous andthereby easier to dewater.

MATERIALS AND APPARATUS:

Materials

1. Alum Solution
2. Water Sample ( River Water)

Apparatus

1. 1 Liter Beaker
2. Pipette
3. Turbidity Meter
4. Jar Test Apparatus

PROCEDURES:

1. The water from the river was prepared.

2. 500ml river water sample was filled into six different beakers (Plexiglas beakers).
3. Alum solution with 2.0 g/l concentration is prepared
4. Alum solution is then added to the beakers corresponding to doses of 0 ml, 2 ml,4 ml,
6 ml, 8 ml, 10 ml.
5. Start stirring rapidly at speed 80 rpm for 2 minute (Rapid mix stage).
6. After the rapid mix stage, reduce the speed to 15 rpm for 30 minutes.
7. 9. After the stirring period was over, stop the stirrer and the flocs was allowed to settle
for about 20 minutes .
5. The turbidity of each samples are determined by using the Turbidity Meter.
RESULTS:

Sample Volume = 0.5 liter

Alum Concentration = 2.0 g/liter

Beaker Doses Of Alum (ml) Actual Alum Dose Turbidity (from 100 ml
(mg) supernanrant)
(NTU)
1 0 0 520

2 2 4 540

3 4 8 320

4 6 12 180

5 8 16 80

6 10 20 4

Turbidity (NTU)
600

500

400

300

200

100

0
0 4 8 12 16 20

Actual Alum Doses(mg)

DISCUSSION:

We had successfully done this experiment because the objective of this experiment, to
conduct various experiments on chemical coagulation and flocculation and to determine the
optimum dose combination of coagulant aid (when used) which will produce the highest
removal of turbid water sample has achieved.

Jar tests have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of various coagulants and
flocculants under a variety of operating conditions for water treatment. This procedure allows
individual polymers to be compared on such criteria as floc formation, settlingcharacteristics,
and clarity. Generally, the best performing products provide fast floc formation, rapid settling
rate, and clear supernatant. This test should be performed on-site, since large amounts of
water may be required for testing.

Turbidity is essentially a measure of the cloudiness of the water which indicates the
presence of colloidal particles. The particles should be making sure removed from the water
before for the publics use. However these colloids are suspended in solutionand can be
removed by sedimentation or filtration. Very simply, the particles in thecolloid range are too
small to settle in a reasonable time period, and too small to be trapped in the pores of a filter.
For colloids to remain stable they must remain small. Most colloids are stable because they
posses a negative charge that repel other colloidal particles before they collide with one
another. The colloids are continually involved in Brownian movement, which is merely
random movement. Charges on colloids aremeasured by placing Dc electrodes in a colloidal
dispersion. The particles migrate to the pole of opposite charge at a rate proportional to the
potential gradient. Generally, thelarger the surface charge, the more stable the suspension.

Based on this experiment, the first jar is serving as a control and no coagulant was
added. The coagulant doses increased in the containers from no 1 to no 6. For this water,as the
dose of coagulant increased the residual turbidity improved. It is important to note that the
optimum coagulant dose is the dose which meets the specified turbidity required on the
regulatory permit. The addition of excess coagulant may reduce turbidity beyond what is
required but also could lead to the production of more sludge which would require disposal.

Based on the data we have collected, a graph of Turbidity (NTU) against Actual Alum
Doses (mg) is plotted. By referring to the graph, we can determine the optimum dosage of
alum which is beaker number 6 with 20mg that total 30g/l of alum results on 4 NTU.
CONCLUSION:

As conclusion, this experiment is successfully been done and it is because the

objective of this experiment which determine the optimum dosage of alum which will produce
the highest removal of turbid water sample has achieved.

Jar testing is an experimental method where optimal conditions are determined

empirically rather than theoretically. Jar test are meant to mimic the conditions and processes
that take place in the clarification portion of water and wastewater treatment plants. The
values that are obtained through the experiment are correlated and adjusted in order to
account for the actual treatment system. After the experiment, Graph turbidity versus actual
alum doses are plot, from the graph we get the most effective dose of alum is 20mg which
result 4 NTU. The allowed turbidity is less than 5 NTU.

Based on the data, we conclude that although the turbidity is generally declines as the
amount of the alum which added into the water but there is a point where more alum should
not be added. This is because alum will make the water more acidic. Therefore, to overcome
these problems, buffer should be added with same amount of alum at the sametime the alum is
added.
QUESTIONS:

1) Name some other chemicals that may be used as coagulant?

ANS : Aluminum Chloride, Ferric Sulfate and Ferrous Sulfate.

2) Briefly discuss the effect of alkalinity on coagulation?

ANS: High alkalinity water, excessive amounts of coagulant may be needed to lower
the pH to the optimal pH range. In these cases, it may be beneficial to use acid in
addition to the coagulant to reduce the amount of coagulant needed and effectively
lower chemical costs.

3) What cause particles to remain in a colloidal suspension?

ANS: Suspensions and colloids are two common types of mixtures whose properties
are in many ways intermediate between those of true solutions and heterogeneous
mixtures. A suspension is a heterogeneous mixture of particles with diameters of about
1 µm (1000 nm) that are distributed throughout a second phase. If the suspension is
allowed to stand, the two phases will separate, which is why paints must be thoroughly
stirred or shaken before use. A colloid is also a heterogeneous mixture, but the
particles of a colloid are typically smaller than those of a suspension.

4) Give three engineering and three environmental reasons for removing colloidal
materials from a waste stream?

ANS: -ease of sedimentation

-bring together suspended matter

-can affect the water quality that can cause turbidity and colour

-cause a complete electrostatic charge reversal and a restabilization of the

colloid complex.