Hopefully youll find it to be of help in addressing some of the particular concerns you

may have about the curious world of coagulants!

10.0 REFERENCE

(AWWA, (2000), Operational Control of Coagulation and Filtration Processes, M37,

nd
2 Edition, Manual of Water Supply Practices, Denver, CO).

Table 2: Commonly Available Coagulants and Details

COMMON INDICATIVE
TYPICAL CHEMICAL NAME & TYPICAL
COAGULANT NOTES COST, $/tonne
NAME
1 MANUFACTURERS FORMULA ANALYSIS (as 100%)
2

Alum Aluminates Aluminium sulphate 7.5-8% Al2O3 or Most common

Omega Chemicals Al2(SO4)3.18H2O 49-52% w/w coagulant used in
450
Al2(SO4)3.18H2O water treatment.
SG 1.3 Relatively cheap.
PAC 23 Aluminates Aluminium chlorohydrate 23-24% Al2O3 or Used in lieu of alum
MEGAPAC 23 Omega Chemicals (ACH) 40-41% w/w ACH where raw water has
ALCHLOR AC Hardman Chemicals Al2(OH)5Cl SG 1.33 low pH & alkalinity. 2100
Orica/ Spectrum 83-84% basicity Has little impact on
PROFLOC A23 8.5% w/w Cl pH.
PAC-10 LB Aluminates Polyaluminium chloride 10-11% Al2O3 Used in lieu of alum
MEGAPAC 10 Omega Chemicals (PACl) or 20-23% w/w where raw water has
Al2(OH)3Cl3 PACl. SG 1.18 low pH & alkalinity. 2500
50% basicity Has greater impact
10.5% w/w Cl on pH than ACH.
PAC-10 HB Aluminates Aluminium chlorohydrate Diluted ACH. See ACH.
(ACH) 10% Al2O3 Sometimes used in 2800
80% basicity small WTPs.
PACS Aluminates Polyaluminium 10% Al2O3 or Aluminium-based
chlorosulphate 5.3% w/w Al SG coagulant. Not
Al3(OH)4.95Cl3.55(SO4)0.25 1.19 commonly used; at
2800
50% basicity some NSW WTPs.
10% w/w Cl
2% w/w SO4
PASS Aluminates Polyaluminium 10% Al2O3 or Strange coagulant!
silicosulphate 5.3% w/w Al Cannot be diluted
Al2(OH)3.24Si0.1(SO4)1.58 SG 1.34 with water: forms
2500
54% basicity flocs. Gippsland
Water has used with
success.
Sodium aluminate Aluminates NaAl(OH)4 18% w/w Al2O3 Strong alkaline
or 41.7% w/w coagulant. Can work
NaAl(OH)4 on highly coloured
SG 1.47 water with low 2200
12% w/w free alkalinity. Used at
NaOH some Tasmanian
WTPs.
PFS Aluminates Polyferric sulphate 12.2% w/w Fe(III) Hydroxylated ferric
Fe2(OH)0.6(SO4)2.7 or 43.7% w/w sulphate. Used at
650
Fe2(SO4)3 several WTPs in
SG 1.54 NSW.
10% basicity
Ferric Sulphate Hardman Ferric sulphate Fe2(SO4)3 12% w/w Fe(III) Similar to PFS.
MEGACLEAR 12 Omega Chemicals or 43% w/w Has greater impact
550
Fe2(SO4)3 SG on raw water pH.
1.50
PROFLOC F Orica/ Spectrum Ferric chloride 14-15% w/w Similar to other
FeCl3 Fe(III) or 41-43% ferric coagulants. No
w/w FeCl3 S04 added to treated 1400
SG 1.45 water. Very
corrosive.

Brand names for coagulant products are shown in italics. In general, number refers to Al2O3 content in % w/w e.g. MEGAPAC 23 is
ACH with nominally 23% w/w Al2O3 content.
Assumes 20 kL bulk delivery, ex works Melbourne.

th
68 Annual Water Industry Engineers and Operators Conference Page No 83
Schweppes Centre Bendigo, 7 and 8 September, 2005