• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.447-454
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• 2018

Although flotation techniques are often used for the removal of algal particles, the practicality of algae-harvesting technologies is limited owing to the complex and expensive facilities and equipment required for chemical coagulation. Here, we examined the feasibility of an approach to separating algal particles from water bodies without the need for chemical coagulants, depending on the condition of the algae, and to determine the optimal conditions. Using Anabaena sp., a cyanobacterium causes algal blooms in lakes, we stimulated auto-flocculation in algal particles without coagulants and conducted solid-liquid separation experiments of algal particles under various conditions. The six cultivation columns included in our analysis comprised four factors: Water temperature, light intensity, nutrients, and carbon source; auto-flocculation was induced under all treatments, with the exception of the treatment involving no limits to all factors, and algal particles were well-settled under all conditions for which auto-flocculation occurred. Meanwhile, flotation removal of auto-flocculated algal particles was attained only when nutrients were blocked after algae were grown in an optimal medium. However, no significant differences were detected between the functional groups of the extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) of floated and settled algal particles in the FT-IR peak, which can cause attachment by collision with micro-bubbles.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2009

The use of fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) increases as the demand for the whiter and brighter printing papers increases. FWAs are used as internal and surface treatment chemicals. FWAs that are not used properly in the papermaking process, however, remain in the process water and may demage the paper quality and processes. In this study, a new idea to eliminate FWAs from the process water, consisted of the floc formation of FWAs with cationic chemicals, such as cationic polyelectrolytes and alum, and the removal of the floc by screening or sedimentation, was proposed. Flocculation of FWAs, that is the first step to remove FWAs from the process water, was investigated using turbidity and particle size measurement. Relationship between turbidity and particle size showed that the turbidity could reflect the particle size change of FWA flocs and was proper for the evaluation of flocculation phenomena. Poly-DADMAC was more efficient than PEI to induce the flocculation of FWAs. Alum was effective chemical for the flocculation and sedimentation of FWAs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.225-233
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• 2014

This paper presents a Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD) based simulation and experimental tracer test of flow pattern and turbulent energy dissipation inside a serpentine flocculation basin with continuous operation. Research focused on the evaluation of a specific flow pattern on the hydraulic behavior on the flocculation basin. From the results of CFD simulation and actual tracer test, both results were in good accordance with each other. Also, each Morill index were calculated as 1.5 from CFD simulation and 1.7 from actual tracer test, respectively. Especially, turbulence energy was dissipated relatively higher in the vicinity of inlet to the flocculation basin than other region. The differences between the CFD simulation and actual tracer test were 1.4 min in $T_{50}$, and 1.3 min in $T_p$, respectively.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2001

Hydraulic transport of fines up to the surface of flotation cell was supposed to be a mechanism of fines fractionation through the froth-flotation. Efficient fractionation of fines means efficient skimming out of flotation rejects as much as possible with least long fiber loss. The selectivity of fines fractionation was found to be mainly affected by long fibers flocculation degree in this study. Lack of sufficient flocculation of long fibers could lead to extensive loss of long fibers. It was also found that higher flotation flux caused higher flotation reject as well as the increase of long fiber loss, but did not affect the fine content ratio in the flotation reject. We controlled the flotation flux and the stock consistency, and chose a cationic polymer to maximize the flocculation of long fibers and to increase the amount of flotation reject. The highest efficiency of fines fractionation was obtained at 1.3% of stock consistency and at 100L/min of flotation flux in our experimental set up. The cationaic polymer we chose was found to be very effective in fiber flocculation and flotation froth stabilization. New definitions of fractionation efficiency were introduced in this study to compare the results more clearly.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.8 no.3 s.30
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• pp.33-41
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• 2005

The optimum condition is defined as one that best suits the purpose of flocculation; the number of small particles should decrease, while that of large particles should increase. The object of this research was to develop a new impeller and substitute for conventional flocculators. The flow characteristics of turbines and hydrofoil type flocculators in turbulent fluids were observed using a standard $k-{\epsilon}$ Model and a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation program-FLUENT. The experiments were performed to compare PBT(Pitched Blade Turbine) flocculator with twisted hydrofoil type flocculators for velocity distribution, and floe formation at conventional water treatment plants in Korea. As a result of the CED solution, twisted hydrofoil types are similar to hydrofoil flocculators for flow characteristics without regard to the twisted angle, On the other hand, it was established that turbine flocculators are greater than hydrofoil flocculators with flow unevenness and dead zone formation. Twisted hydrofoil type-II (Angle $15{\sim}20^{\circ}$) is the most proper impeller for water flocculation from this point of view with a decreasing the dead zone, maintaining of the equivalent energy distribution and a drawing up of the sedimentation substance from the bottom of the flocculation basin.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.319-331
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• 2017

This vacuum preloading combined with polyacrylamide (PAM) flocculation was proposed to separating solid-liquid in waste slurry and to improving bearing capacity of soft soil ground. By using waste slurry taken from drilled shaft construction site in Shanghai, China, a series of settling column tests with four typical flocculants and one normal for waste slurry were carried out for comparative analysis. The optimal amounts for each flocculant were obtained from the column tests. Then, model tests on vacuum preloading with anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) flocculation and without flocculants were carried out. The out of water and the settlement of slurry surface ground were monitored during the model tests, and the changes in water content, particle-size and pore-size distributions in different positions after the model tests were measured and discussed. It is found that water content of the waste slurry without APAM flocculation changed from 204 to 195% by 24 hours standing and 15 hours vacuum preloading, while the water content of the waste slurry with APAM flocculation was declined from 163 to 96% by 24 hours standing, and was further reduced into 37% by 136 hours vacuum preloading, which shows that the combined method is feasible and effective.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.267-274
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• 2004

The optimum condition is defined as one that best suits the purpose of flocculation; the number of small particles should decrease, while that of large particles should increase. The object of this research was to develop a new impeller and substitute for conventional flocculators. The flow characteristics of turbines and hydrofoil type flocculators in turbulent fluids were observed using a standard k-$\epsilon$ Model and a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation program- FLUENT The experiments were performed to compare PBT(Pitched Blade Turbine) flocculator with twisted hydrofoil type flocculators for velocity distribution, and floc formation at conventional water treatment plants in Korea. As a result of the CFD solution, twisted hydrofoil types are similar to hydrofoil flocculators for flow characteristics without regard to the twisted angle, On the other hand, it was established that turbine flocculators are greater than hydrofoil flocculators with flow unevenness and dead zone formation. Twisted hydrofoil type- II (Angle $15{\~}20^{\circ}$) is the most proper impeller for water flocculation from this point of view with a decreasing the dead zone, maintaining of the equivalent energy distribution and a drawing up of the sedimentation substance from the bottom of the flocculation basin.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.311-317
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• 2000

The operation of flocculation process and the evaluation thereof have been mainly based on G, t and $G{\times}t$ values which are available from design guidelines and texts. However, their suggested ranges are too wide to find the optimum condition specific to a particular water treatment plant and none of the existing method can be used to evaluate and suggest the optimum operational condition. Recently, a commercially available particle counter is found to be useful in determining the flocculation process based on the particle dynamics. The optimum condition is defined as one that best suits the purpose of flocculation; the number of small particles should decrease, while that of large particles should increase. The experiments were performed at two conventional water treatment plants in Korea, one with horizontal mechanical flocculators, and another with vertical type mechanical flocculators. In this paper, experiences to evaluate the flocculation process and to suggest the optimum operation condition will be presented. Although particle counting method is found to be beneficial compared to any other existing methods, the optimum condition is very much site-specific and should be evaluated at each water treatment plant for different conditions.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2002

Using a simple continuous optical technique, coupled with measurements of zeta potential, the flocculation characteristics of kaoline suspensions of different content(15, 35 and 55 NTU) by several cationic polyelectrolytes, has been examined. The optimum mixing is obtained under a constant stirring of 200 rpm, differently from a general flocculation test. The charge density of a polyelectrolyte is important in determining the optimum dosage and in the removal of kaoline particles. The optimum dosage is less for the polyelectrolyte of higher charge density and is the same regardless of kaoline content. At the dosage, the removal of kaoline particles is higher for the polyelectrolyte of higher charge density and zeta potential of kaoline particles reaches to near zero. The rate of adsorption and flocculation rate have been found to be affected by charge density and molecular weight of a polyelelctrolyte and the content of kaoline particles.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.626-632
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• 2023

Acemannan, a highly acetylated glucomannan, was extracted from fresh Aloe vera leaves by ethanol fractionation, resulting in a concentration increase of more than threefold. The presence of acemannan was confirmed using FTIR and ¹H NMR analysis, revealing an average molecular weight of 780 kDa. The flocculating activity of the fractionated aloe gel polysaccharide was assessed through settling tests in a 1% (w/v) bentonite suspension. The results demonstrated that the aloe polysaccharide exhibited remarkable stability within a temperature range of 20~70 ℃. The maximal flocculation rate at different pH levels ranged from 93% to 97%, with an optimal dose for maximum flocculation rate between 0.25 mg/mL. Notably, the minimum dose required for flocculation was achieved at a pH of 3, attributed to the compression of electrostatic repulsion on the surface of bentonite particles. However, the flocs obtained under acidic conditions were less dense and compact, exhibiting lower sedimentation velocity compared to those formed under neutral and alkaline pH conditions. Additionally, the addition of salt showed a slight synergistic effect on flocculation, significantly enhancing the sedimentation velocity. This investigation highlights the potential of Aloe vera polysaccharide as a natural and edible flocculant, offering promising applications in various industries.