Flocculants are chemical substances that aggregate solid particles suspended in liquids into larger, heavier flocs for easier sedimentation or filtration separation. Their primary components can be selected based on different applications and objectives. Below are some common flocculant ingredients:
Inorganic salts: Such as aluminum salts and iron salts, including aluminates (e.g., aluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate) and ferrates (e.g., ferric chloride, ferrous sulfate). These inorganic salts form cations in water that bind with negatively charged suspended particles to create larger flocculated aggregates.
Organic polymers: Examples include polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and polyaluminum sulfate. These organic polymers cause particles to aggregate into larger flocs through chemical reactions or physical interactions with the surfaces of suspended particles in water.
Polymeric colloids: These include high-molecular-weight polymers such as polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). These polymers physically adsorb onto suspended particle surfaces to form flocculated aggregates.
Organic amines: Examples include polyamines such as polyethylene diamine (PDA) and polyacrylamide amino-methyl acrylamide (PAMAM). These organic amines interact with charged substances on particle surfaces to form flocculation aggregates.
It should be noted that different flocculant components exhibit varying applicability and efficacy for different types of suspended particles. In practical applications, appropriate flocculant components must be selected based on specific water quality characteristics and treatment objectives. Suitable testing and adjustments are required to achieve optimal flocculation results.