Counterflow Co-flocculation Flotation for Water Purification

Abstract

A new method for potable water treatment was brought forward and studied in this research. The treatment process was named as counterflow co-flocculation flotation (CC-FF). Pilot experiment was conducted and the operational parameters were presented. The optimized operational conditions are as follows: the detention time is 6–11 min with hydraulic load of 9–16 m3/(m2 h); the recycle ratio should be no less than 8% while the distance between the inlet of source water and recycle water should be greater than 1200 mm. If the source water turbidity was lower than 100 NTU, 0.12–0.35 mmol/L Al dosage is enough to maintain efficient turbidity removal. Since the flocculation and flotation processes were carried out in the same tank, this new technique has some advantages than the conventional flocculation-flotation methods. Firstly, the microbubbles released from recycle water will participate in the flocculation of suspended particles, hence the low-density but high shear-force-resistance flocci could be formed. Secondly, the microflocci or suspended particles will be functioned as ‘nucleus’ during the bubble formation from air-dissolved recycle water. Thirdly, in the midsection of the tank a blanket of bubble-microfloc aggregates could be formed, which will intercept the downward-flow flocci and upward-flow bubbles efficiently, thus keep the renovation and stability of the blanket.