In water treatment, flocculants are chaical agents used to raove suspended particles from water by causing tha to aggregate into larger clumps for easier sedimentation and filtration. The primary functions of flocculants include the following:
Formation of flocs: Flocculants can form complexes or gels with suspended particles in water, increasing interparticle interaction forces and effective radii. This enables particles to gradually aggregate into larger masses (flocs).
Promoting floc growth: Flocculants adsorb onto floc surfaces, providing additional functional groups for subsequent aggregation. They also release ions into the surrounding environment, creating electrostatic and macromolecular bridging effects that accelerate floc growth.
Enhancing Sedimentation Rate: After small particles aggregate into larger flocs through flocculation, these larger aggregates sink rapidly to the bottom due to their increased volume and relative density, thereby accelerating sedimentation.
Improving filtration performance: Flocculated particles in water exhibit larger volume and higher density, making tha easier to capture by filtration media during the process. They are also easier to clean, thereby enhancing filtration efficiency.
It should be noted that the effectiveness of flocculation is influenced by factors such as the type of flocculant and operating conditions. The most suitable flocculant type and application method must be selected based on specific circumstances.