Flocculant is a commonly used water treatment agent, whose main function is to promote the aggregation of suspended solids and colloidal particles in water into larger clumps, facilitating subsequent sedimentation or filtration removal. The following are the main functions of flocculants:
Aggregated suspended matter: The suspended matter in water is small solid particles that are difficult to directly precipitate or filter out. Flocculants can undergo chemical reactions or physical adsorption with these suspended substances, aggregating them into larger clumps.
Expanding particle size: The addition of flocculants can change the surface charge of suspended particles, reducing their charge capacity. In this way, the electrostatic repulsion between particles is weakened, which is conducive to mutual attraction and aggregation between particles, thus forming larger clumps.
Promoting coagulation: Flocculant molecules can also form agglomerates through cross-linking or adsorption, further increasing the size and mass of particles.
Accelerated sedimentation: Through the action of flocculants, larger clumps of suspended solids and colloidal particles formed in water can precipitate faster to the bottom, accelerating the sedimentation rate.
Convenient filtration: The suspended particles in the water treated with flocculants are larger and easier to filter. This allows for the removal of these clumps through filters or filter media, resulting in relatively clear and transparent water.
In summary, flocculants improve the sedimentation and filtration efficiency of solid substances in water treatment by promoting the aggregation of small suspended solids and colloids into large clumps, thereby improving the clarity and quality of water.