1.

0 OBJECTIVE

 To determine the optimal coagulant dose which will produce the highest removal of a
given water turbidity.

2.0 THEORY

Raw water and wastewater is normally turbid containing solid particles of varying sizes.
Turbidity in water is caused by suspended and colloidal matter such as clay, silt, finely divided
organic and inorganic matter, and plankton and other microscopic organisms. Particles with
size greater than 50µm settle fairly rapidly. The setting velocities of colloidal particles of size
less than 50µm are very slow. Thus, these particles are encouraged to collide leading to
coalescence of particle to form flocs particles, which are bigger and heavier. These particles
will have higher setting velocities and easily settle out.

A very important step in water and wastewater treatment is the coagulation-flocculation

process which is widely used, due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Coagulation and
flocculation consist of adding a floc-forming chemical reagent into water or wastewater to
encourage the non-settleable colloidal solids or (particles) to collide, leading to coalescence of
particle to form flocs particles (which are bigger and heavier).

Colloidal particles which are not agglomerate by itself due to the presence of repulsive force
need a process to supress these forces so as to allow flocs formation. This process is called
coagulation process. Coagulant that are normally used are salts of aluminium namely
aluminium sulphate, 𝐴𝑙 2 (𝑆𝑂4 )3 and ferric salts namely ferric sulphate, 𝐹𝑒2 (𝑆𝑂4 )3 and ferric

chloride, 𝐹𝑒𝐶𝑙 3. The non-settleable particles have a negative (-ve) charge, so the positively

charge (+ve) coagulant particles neutralized the particles during coagulation. The next process
is flocculation process. It is the gentle agitation process to agglomerate the smaller non-
settleable particles (the neutralized particles). During this process, the neutralized particles
(which are not repelling each other) are drawn together by Van der Waal’s forces, hence,
forming flocs. The flocs will then settle out in the sedimentation basin, with remaining floc
being removed in the filter.
3.0 EQUIPMENTS AND MATERIALS

1. Jar test apparatus with six rotating paddles blade

2. Six beakers
3. pH meter
4. Turbidity meter
5. Pipette

REAGENT

1) Aluminium sulphate (alum) with a known concentration of anionic/cationic coagulant

such as ferrous sulphate and ferric chloride.

4.0 PROCEDURES

1. The wastewater sample is prepared. The sample is premixed to obtain consistent

conditions in all jars.
2. The temperature, pH and turbidity of the water sample is measured.
3. The prepared wastewater is placed from (1) into six (6) different beakers (plexiglass
graduated beakers) with 1 litre each.
a. 1-5 ml of coagulant (alum) are added by using a measuring pipette into beaker
1,2,3,4 and 5 while in beaker 6, no alum was added as it acts as a control sample.
b. The pH and turbidity of each beaker are measured by using pH meter and
turbidity meter.
4. The beakers are started stirring rapidly (60 to 80) rpm for 3 minutes.
5. The speed is reduced to 30 rpm for about 20 minutes.
6. The flocculation process is observed and the floc formation in final 10 minutes is
recorded by referring to the chart of particle sizes provided as in Figure 1.
7. After the stirring period is over, the stirrer is stopped and the flocs are allowed to settle
for about 5 minutes.
8. 500 mL of settled water of each beaker are separated out into another beaker.
9. The temperature, pH and turbidity of the clarified water are determined.
5.0 RESULTS

Initial turbidity: 15.6 NTU

Initial pH: 7.10

Jar No 1 2 3 4 5 6

pH 6.00 5.84 5.07 4.98 4.93 6.87

Coagulant dose
(mg/L) 1 2 3 4 5 control

Agitate (minute) 23 23 23 23 23 23

Fast (rpm) 80 80 80 80 80 80

Slow (rpm) 30 30 30 30 30 30

Settling depth
(mm) 50 37 60 90 80 0

Turbidity (NTU)
1.87 1.76 1.12 1.14 2.07 20.5

Floc formation
(final 10 minutes) Moderate Very
Fine Moderate Coarse Very fine
fine coarse
Graph 1

Graph 2

Graph of Turbidity against Coagulant Dosage

25

20.5
20
Turbidity (NTU)

15

10

5
1.87 1.76 2.07
1.12 1.14

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Coagulant dosage (mg/L)
6.0 DATA ANALYSIS

1. Based on the results, jar 6 which acts as a control sample has the highest turbidity
reading that is 20.5 while jar 3 has the lowest turbidity reading that is 1.12. The second
highest turbidity reading is 2.07 which is belongs to jar 5. Jar 4 has the second lowest
turbidity reading that is 1.14. The turbidity level of jar 1 and jar 2 are 1.87 and 1.76
respectively.

2. Based on graph 1, as the coagulant dose (mg/L) increases, the pH values decreases.
Based on graph 2, the turbidity (NTU) decreases from 20.5 to 1.12 as the coagulant
dose increases from 0 to 3 mg/L. The turbidity (NTU) then started to increases from
1.12 until 2.07 at the coagulant dose of 3 mg/L.

3. From the graph 2, the optimum value for coagulant dose of the coagulation process is
3 mg/L.
7.0 DISCUSSION

1. If the aluminium sulphate is replaced by ferric chloride (𝐹𝑒𝐶𝑙3 ), the mechanism is

FeCl3 + 3H2O Fe(OH) 3 + 3HCl

Ferric chloride reacts with water to form ferric hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. Ferric
chloride reactions in the coagulation process are similar to alum, but its relative solubility
and pH range differ significantly from alum.

2. Coagulation and flocculation process are different. Coagulation means to curdle. It refers
to a chemical process in which the destabilization of non-settleable particles takes place.
These particles form lumps with the help of coagulant. Flocculation means to form flocs.
It can be described as a physical or a mechanical process in which the coagulated clumps
or flocs are joined together.

3. The common coagulant used are salts of aluminium namely aluminium sulphate,
𝐴𝑙 2 (𝑆𝑂4 )3 and ferric salts namely ferric sulphate, 𝐹𝑒2 (𝑆𝑂4 )3 and ferric chloride, 𝐹𝑒𝐶𝑙 3.

4. The positively charged coagulant particles neutralized the non-settleable particles which
have negative charged and thus destabilize them during coagulation process. During the
flocculation, the smaller non-settleable particles (the neutralized particles) are
agglomerate to form flocs.

5. During the experiment, the speeds of the flocculator need to be reduced from 80 rpm to
30 rpm because the slower mixing speed helps promote floc formation by enhancing
particle collisions which lead to larger flocs.

6. Another three important factors influencing coagulation are the temperature of water
sample, the pH reading of water sample and the alkalinity of water sample.
8.0 CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, jar test is one of the method used in a wastewater treatment to determine the
proper coagulant dosage for effective coagulation. From this experiment, 3 mg/L is identified
as the optimal coagulant dose in the coagulation process because it shows the lowest turbidity
reading.

9.0 REFERENCES

1. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://mimoza.marmara.edu.tr/
~kyapsakli/enve201/9_Coagulation-Flocculation-
Jar%2520Test.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj__te32bLhAhVN7XMBHfPTBv8QFjAMegQIBxAB&usg=AOv
Vaw24r8fvevc1vqx_sh_9NbM7

2. http://web.deu.edu.tr/atiksu/ana52/aryen2.html

3. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.scribd.com/docum
ent/372625407/Jar-Test-Lab-
Report&ved=2ahUKEwjw5Iih37LhAhXNx4UKHXZqAmAQFjABegQIARAB&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw
3We0Xcf5KXSvFUJy7iJcb6

4. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/31
2071669/JAR-TEST-Lab-
Report&ved=2ahUKEwjw5Iih37LhAhXNx4UKHXZqAmAQFjACegQIBRAB&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw
2e16IbEKtMk33B0Pbo-ypo