Chemical and biological flocculation process to treat municipal sewage and analysis of biological function

The pilot scale experimental apparatus and the procedure of the chemical and biological flocculation process to verify the feasibility in treating Shanghai municipal sewage were introduced in this paper. In addition, the biological function of the process was discussed. The results of optimal running showed that in the reaction tank, the concentration of mixed liquor suspended solid(MLSS) was 2 g/L, hydraulic retention time(HRT) was 35 min, dosage of liquid polyaluminium chloride(PAC) was 60 mg/L, and the concentration of polyacrylamide(PAM) was 0 5 mg/L. The effluent average concentrations of COD Cr , TP, SS and BOD 5 were 50 mg/L, 0 62 mg/L, 18 mg/L, and 17 mg/L, respectively. These were better than the designed demand. In addition, the existence of biological degradation in this system was proven by several methods. The removal efficiencies of the chemical and biological flocculation process were 20% higher than that of the chemical flocculation process above at the same coagulant dosage. The treatment process under different situations was evaluated on a pilot scale experiment, and the results provided magnificent parameters and optimal condition for future operation of the plant.

Characteristics of the dynamic distribution of suspended particles in the flocculation process

Polyaluminium chloride (PAC) synthetic water was selected as a coagulant and kaolin suspension particles as objects to be removed. Online instruments such as the turbidimeter and particle counter were employed to monitor the flocculation process online and collect test data. The aim of the experiments was to study the dynamic distribution characteristics of suspension particles in the flocculation process. The 3D flow field in the reacting vessel was also simulated at different slow stirring speeds. The experiments showed that particle collision and aggregation in the flocculation process is in compliance with the Sutherland cluster aggregation model. This study further indicated that under appropriate hydrodynamic conditions, the distribution of turbulent flow in the reactor could be improved to increase the odds of effective particle collision and restrain the breakup of formed flocs by vortex shearing force. A good flocculation effect could therefore be produced.

Impact of dynamic distribution of floc particles on flocculation effect

Polyaluminum chloride （PAC） was used as coagulant and suspended particles in kaolin water. Online instruments including turbidimeter and particle counter were used to monitor the flocculation process. An evaluation model for demonstrating the impact on the flocculation effect was established based on the multiple linear regression analysis method. The parameter of the index weight of channels quantitatively described how the variation of floc particle population in different size ranges cause the decrement of turbidity. The study showed that the floc particles in different size ranges contributed differently to the decrease of turbidity and that the index weight of channel could excellently indicate the impact degree of floc particles dynamic distribution on flocculation effect. Therefore, the parameter may significantly benefit the development of coagulation and sedimentation techniques as well as the optimal coagulant selection.

Experimental evaluation of eco-friendly flocculants prepared from date palm rachis

Sodium carboxymethylcellulose （CMCNa） is an anionic water soluble polyelectrolyte widely used in many industrial sectors including food, textiles, papers, adhesives, paints, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and mineral processing. CMCNa was produced by chemical modification of cellulose, and represents many advantages： natural, renewable, non-toxic and biodegradable. In this study, different kinds of CMCNa, prepared from an agricultural waste date palm rachis, were tested as eco-friendly flocculants for drinking water treatment and their performances as flocculants in turbidity removal enhancement were assessed. The prepared materials were characterized by the degree of substitution （DS） and polymerisation （DP）. The study of the effect of some experimental parameters on the coagulation-flocculation performance, using the prepared materials combined with aluminium sulphate （as coagulant）, showed that the best conditions for turbidity treatment were given for pH 8, coagulant dose 20 mg/L, flocculant concentration of 100 mg/L and stirring velocity （during the flocculation step） of 30 r/min. Under the optimum conditions, the turbidity removal using CMCNa, prepared from raw material, was about 95%. A comparison study between the flocculation performance of a commercial anionic flocculant （A100PWG： polyacrylamide） and that of the prepared CMCNa showed that the performance of the waste-based flocculant with a DS of 1.17 and a DP of 480 was 10% better than that achieved by the commercial one.