Flocculation: Processes and Applications

This book opens by approaching current trends in preparation and chemical modification of flocculant polysaccharides derived from plants and their flocculation performance. The authors go on to propose plant extracts which can efficiently perform coagulation and flocculation operations without the environmental risk of residual sludge with high concentrations of aluminum or iron. The authors propose that the design and operation of flocculators is largely dependent on the following features: floc characteristics, flocculation kinetics, and engineering aspects of flocculation. This book also discusses current knowledge on algal organic matter (AOM) flocculation, the impact of AOM on the removal of other compounds and links AOM composition and character to the efficiency of flocculation, the reaction conditions and mechanisms and finally, to the properties of flocs. Additionally, the performance of natural coagulant tanin compared to chemical coagulants aluminium sulphate and ferric chloride commonly used in the treatment of raw wastewater from tannery, by means of the physicochemical processes of coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation are examined. The authors outline research about combining assisted sedimentation with other operations such as oxidation processes in order to evaluate the solids removal of the complete designed wastewater treatment focusing on OMW treatment.