• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.275-285
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• 2008

The floc formation, breakage and reformation of humic acid by inorganic (alum and PAC) and organic coagulants (cationic polyelectrolytes) at several conditions (pH, ionic strength and floc breakage time) were examined and compared among the coagulants at different conditions using a continuous optical monitoring method, with controlled mixing and stirring conditions. For alum, the shapes of formation, breakage and reformation curves at different pH (5 and 7) were different, but the shapes and the sizes of initial floc and reformed floc were nearly the same in the absence and presence of electrolytes at pH 7. For PAC, similar shapes of the curves were obtained at different pH and ionic strength, but the sizes were different, except for those of reformed flocs at different pH. However, for these coagulants, reformed flocs after floc breakage, occurred irreversibly for all the conditions used in this study. For organic coagulants, the time to attain the initial plateau floc size, the extent of floc strength at high shear rate and reversibility of reformed floes were different, depending floc formation mechanism. Especially, for the cationic polyelectrolyte forming humic flocs by charge neutralization or electrostatic patch effect mechanism, reformed flocs occurred reversibly, regardless of pH and floc breakage time, but occurred irreversibly in the presence of electrolytes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.323-329
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• 2000

The coupling of an activated sludge reactor with a membrane unit, i.e., Membrane Coupled Activated Sludge (MCAS) system offers several advantages over conventional process. But the major hurdle in the extensive use of this process is the continuous reduction of permeation flux caused by membrane fouling. The aim of this study is to investigate membrane fouling characteristics in the MCAS process. During crossflow ultrafiltration(CFUF) of activated sludge, floc size decreased abruptly at the beginning of operation and thereafter decreased continuously and gradually. The floc size changed from 100~200 to $6{\sim}8{\mu}m$ depending on recirculation velocity. This floc breakage played a key role in rapid increase of $R_c$(cake layer resistance), which led to flux decline. The floc breakage stimulated biomass to release EPS(Extracellular Polymeric Substance) which has been known to be one of the major membrane foul-ants. The amounts of EPS before and after CFUF were 266 and 405(VS mg/MLSS g), respectively. The rise up of EPS concentration was another factor affecting flux decline in MCAS system.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.125-131
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• 2022

The microstructure of highly aggregated colloidal dispersions was investigated by probing the rheological behavior of magnetic suspensions. The dynamic moduli as functions of frequency and strain amplitude are shown to closely resemble that of colloidal gels indicating the formation of network structure. The two types of characteristic critical strain amplitudes, γ_c and γ_y, were characterized in terms of the changing microstructure. The amplitude of γ_c indicates the transition from linear to nonlinear viscoelasticity and depends only on particle volume fraction not magnetic interactions. The study of scaling behavior suggests that it is related to the breakage of interfloc, i.e., floc-floc structure. However, yielding strain, γ_y, was found to be independent of particle volume fraction as well as magnetic interaction. It relates to extensive deformation resulting in yielding behavior. The scaling of elastic constant, G_e, implies that this yielding behavior and hence γ_y is due to the breakage of long-range interfloc interactions. Also, the deformation of flocs due to increase strain was indicated from the investigation of the fractal nature.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.185-193
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• 2020

Bimodal flocculation describes the aggregation and breakage processes of the flocculi (or primary particles) and the flocs in the water environment. Bimodal flocculation causes bimodal size distribution with the two separate peaks of the flocculi and the flocs. Extracellular polymeric substances and ionic species common in the water environment increase the occurrence of bimodal flocculation and flocculi-floc size distribution, under the flocculation mechanisms of electrostatic attraction and polymeric bridging. This study investigated bimodal flocculation and flocculi-floc size distribution, with respect to the extracellular polymeric substance concentration and ionic strength in the kaolinite-containing suspension. The batch flocculation tests comprising 0.12 g/L of kaolinite showed that the highest flocculation potential occurred at the lowest xanthan gum (as extracellular polymeric substances) concentration, under all the ionic strengths of 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 M NaCl. Also, it was important to note that the higher ionic strength resulted in the higher flocculation potential, at all the xanthan gum concentrations. The bimodal flocculation and flocculi-floc size distribution became apparent in the experimental conditions, which had low and intermediate flocculation potential. Besides the polymeric bridging flocculation, steric stabilization increased the flocculi mass fraction against the floc mass fraction, thereby developing the bimodal size distribution.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.233-243
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• 2015

The bimodal flocculation of cohesive sediments in water environments describes the aggregation and breakage process developing a bimodal floc size distribution with dense flocculi and floppy flocs. A two class population balance equation (TCPBE) was tested for simulating the bimodal flocculation by a model-data fitting analysis with two sets of experimental data (low and high turbulent flows) from 1-D flocculation-settling column tests. In contrast to the Single-Class PBE (SCPBE), the TCPBE could simulate interactions between flocculi and flocs and the flocculation mechanism by differential settling in a low turbulent flow. Also, the TCPBE could perform the same quality of simulation as the elaborate Multi-Class PBE (MCPBE), with a small number of floc size classes and differential equations. Thus, the TCPBE was proven to be the simplest model that is capable of simulating the bimodal flocculation of cohesive sediments in water environments and water, wastewater treatment systems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.581-589
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• 2005

Recently, membrane processes have been replacing the conventional processes for waste water treatment to produce better quality of effluent and to meet more stringent regulations because of water shortage. However, using membrane processes for water treatment has confronted with fouling and difficulty in treating dissolved organic pollutants. In this study, membrane process equipped with crossflow microfiltration is combined with coagulation process using alum and PAC to improve permeability and treatment efficiency. The effects of coagulant dosage and optimum membrane operating conditions were investigated from measurement of permeate flow, cumulative volume, total resistance, particle size, dissolved organic pollutant, dissolved aluminium and quality of effluent. Characteristic of PAC coagulation was compared with that of alum coagulation. PAC coagulation reduced membrane fouling because of forming larger particle size and increased permeate velocity and cumulative volume. Less dissolved organic pollutants and dissolved aluminum made decreasing-rate of permeate velocity being lowered. At using $0.2\;{\mu}m$ membrane, cake filtration observed. At using $0.45\;{\mu}m$ membrane, there was floc breakage due to shear stress occurred born circulating operation. It made floc size smaller than membrane pore size, which subsequently to decrease permeate velocity and to increase total resistance. The optimum coagulation dosage was $300{\pm}50\;mg/L$ for both alum and PAC. PAC coagulation was more efficiently used with $0.2\;{\mu}m$ membrane, and the highest permeate flux was in using $0.45\;{\mu}m$membrane. The greatest efficiency of treatment was as follows; turbidity 99.8%, SS 99.9%, $BOD_5$ 94.4%, $COD_{Cr}$ 95.4%, T-N 54.3%, T-P 99.8%.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.761-772
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• 1998

This study was performed to determine the optimum coagulant dosing amount for effective treatment of raw water. The removal rate of turbidity and the variations of water qualities according to various dosage of coagulants such as Alum, PAC and PACS were investigated. The optimum coagulant dosing amount to make the lowest turbidity of water were 35mg/ι t of Alum, 30mg/ι of PAC and 10mg/ι of PACS in case of 5 NTU of raw water turbidity, and 30mg/ι of Alum, 25mg/ι of PAC and 10mg/ι of PACS in case of 10 NTU of that, respectively. The removal rates of turbidity at 4 min. and 8 min. of settling time were 10 and 72% of Alum, 44 and 62% of PAC and 25 and 55% of PACS in case of 5 NTU, and 52 and 70% of Alum, 90 and 95% of PAC and 10 and 28% of PACS in case of 10 NTU, respectively. Judging from the settling capability of floc., the reaction time of floe. formation and removal efficiency of turbidity, PAC was evaluated as more effective coagulant than Alum and PACS. Also PAC was regarded as the most effective coagulant when the water supply was changed sharply and the fluctuation of the surface loading occured with wide and sharp in settling basin. pH and alkalinity of the water were decreased with increasing coagulants dosage. But pH and alkalinity were not decreased below 5.8 which is the standard for drinking water quality, and 10mg/ι which is the limit concentration of floc. breakage, respectively. Residual Al of the treated water was decreased with increasing coagulants dosage in case of 5 and 10NTU of raw water turbidity. $KMnO_4$ consumption of the water was decreased with increasing coagulants dosage. The reduction rate of $KMnO_4$ consumption at the optimum coagulants dosage were 39% of Alum. 18% of PAC and 11% of PACS in case of 5 NTU of raw water turbidity, and 42% of Alum, 27% of PAC and 36% of PACS in case of 10 NTU of that, respectively. Any relationship was not found between the removal rate of turbidity and KMnO$_4$ consumption. TOC of the water was a bit decreased with increasing coagulants dosage up to 30mg/ι but not changed above 30mg/ι of coagulants dosage. The degree of TOC reduction was increased in the order of Alum, PAC and PACS treatment. Zeta potential of the colloidal floe. at the optimum coagulants dosage was in the range of -20~-15mV in case of 5 NTU of raw water turbidity and 0~0.5mV in case of 10 NTU of that. respectively. Although the kinds and dosages of coagulants were different, zeta potential range were fixed under the conditions of the best coagulation efficiency.