Determination of the flotation effectiveness of industrial waste water in a laboratory

Abstract

This article presents the test results of the laboratory flotation equipment LFM–001 for the treatment of simulated wastewater with a high content of oil products and surfactants. To obtain a water–air mixture, tap water with a volume of up to 40 dm3 was used, through which air was passed, with a volume till 5% of the water volume. The size of the resulting bubbles was determined by the pressure established in the aeration tank before the tests and by the flow rate of the air-water mixture in the flotation machine. After a series of tests, in series where a water–air mixture was added to laboratory containers with simulated wastewater, oil particles formed flakes in the presence of a coagulant. These flakes, together with air bubbles of the air–water mixture, floated to the surface of the container and formed a foamed, oily layer 5 mm thick. At the same time, the water in the laboratory vessel, after passing the air–water mixture became more transparent visually than water in other laboratory vessels.