Flocculation

Flocculation

Flocculation is the bridging of a large, and more efficient, agglomerate via settling (or flotating). Flocculants will bridge smaller colloids together using Charge and molecular weight.

The demo below shows the difference in floc formation between coagulation and flocculation:
Coagulation	Flocculation

FAQ

Q. Are coagulants and flocculants the same thing?
A. Although the terminology is frequently used interchangeably, they are significantly different. There are a variety of inorganic, organic and blends of these chemistries used as coagulants. Flocculants are typically high molecular weight oil / latex based chemistry with varying charges on the (+) and (-) spectrum or inbetween (nonionic). Coagulants are typically on the acidic side and are mostly highly charged, readily soluble in water, cationics. Call us to discuss interest in any coagulants or flocculants.

Q. What pH does the water have to be to optimize the effectiveness of flocculants?
A. Typically neutral or alkaline pH’s work better to form stable floc.

Q. What dosage ranges are typical flocculants fed at.
A. Below are common dosages of different coagulants:

*Cationic: 0.5 to 200 PPM—depends on the application
*Anionic: 0.5 to 20 PPM—also depends on the application

Q. Will any coagulant or flocculant work in my application?
A. Absolutely not. You must usually perform bench studies (jar testing) to determine the best chemistry for the application. Call us to help you evaluate your chemical needs.

See Also:

Coagulation

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