Environmental Engineering

Dr. Ramakrishna Bag

Dept of Civil Engineering
NIT Rourkela
 Sedimentation with coagulation

Fine suspended particles does not settle in plain sedimentation tank

They can be removed by increasing their size into flocculated particles

Chemical used for this purpose is known as coagulants

Coagulants are necessary for water having turbidity > 30 to 50 mg/l

However, almost all major water treatment plants use coagulation +

sedimentation for treating water.
 Chemicals used for coagulation

Alum: Al2(SO4)3 , 18 H2O

Iron salts: FeSO4 , Fe2(SO4)3 Fe(Cl)3
Sodium Aluminate: Na2Al2O4

These chemicals are effective in slightly alkaline environment. In the

absence of alkalinity in the water, external alkalies such as sodium
carbonate or lime is added.
 Benefits of using alum as coagulant
Cheap
Not required any skilled supervision for handling
Remove turbidity
Reduce bad taste and odour of raw water
Water is quite clear
Forms stable floc
Very effective as coagulant
Can be recovered with minimum cost

Disadvantages
Difficult to remove sludge formed
Difficult to dispose the sludge
pH range for its use is small, sometimes external alkalies to be used.
 Benefits of using Copperas as coagulant

Cheaper than alum

Quantity of Copperas required is same as alum
pH range is higher ( 8.5 and above)
Used for treating water without colour

Disadvantage
Can not be useful for treating coloured water
 Iron salt Alum

Produce heavy flocs and remove much more Produce light flocs and remove lesser mount of
suspended solids. suspended solids.

Good oxidising agent, remove H2S and its Not a good oxidising agent like iron salts.
corresponding taste and odour.

Can be used for wide range of pH values. Can be used for limited range of pH values.

Produce straining and promote growth of Does not promote growth of bacteria.
bacteria.

Imparts more corrosiveness. Less corrosive.

Handling and storing require more skill and Does not require skill supervision for handling.
control as they are corrosive.
Coagulant sedimentation plant

Feeding device
Mixing device or mixing basin
Flocculation tank or flocculator
Settling or sedimentation tank
 Feeding devices
Coagulants are fed into the raw water either in powdered form Dry
feeding
or in a solution form Wet feeding.
Wet feeding equipment's are costlier than dry feeding, however, they
can be easily controlled

Choice of feeding devices depends on

Characteristic of coagulants: Copperas can not be fed in dry feeding
method, whereas alum can be fed in dry feeding method
Amount of coagulant required: If small amount of coagulant is required
then for accuracy it is fed in solution form
Cost of the coagulant: Coagulant should be bought in cheapest form and
plant should be equipped to use in that form.
Usually large plant uses wet feeding method whereas small plants use
dry feeding method.
Dry feeder

Wet feeder
 Mixing basin
Mixing basin with baffle wall

Design criteria
Flow velocity = 0.15 to 0.45 m/s
Detention period = 20 to 50 min
Knowing this two length of flow can calculated
Capacity of tank is specified
Capacity/flow length = Cross sectional area
Total flow length/effective length of each channel = No of channel
Mixing basin with mechanical devices
Flocculator
Sedimentation tank
 Sludge production and disposal

Out of total sludge produced, 98% may be water, therefore

it is necessary to remove the water from the sludge before
disposal.

Dry sludge produced in mg/day = Q in l/day * [Suspended

solids removed in mg/l + 0.24 * alum dose in mg/l + other
chemicals (carbon, clay, polymer etc) added to raw water in
mg/l]
 Disposal of sludge
Sand drying beds: temporary storage of sludge.
Gravity thickeners: to reduce volume of sludge.
High speed centrifuge: drying of sludge.
Pressure filtration: dewatering of sludge.