Polyaluminium silicate chloride - a systematic study for the preparation and application of an efficient coagulant for water or wastewater treatment

The coagulation behaviour of the new coagulant agent polyaluminium silicate chloride (PASiC) was investigated in this study. The main purpose was the examination of several possible derivatives of polyaluminium silicate chloride, based on different basicity (OH/Al molar ratio), silica content (Al/Si molar ratio) and preparation method (co-polymerization or composite polymerization) to evaluate the respective coagulation behaviour of them. Moreover, a systematic study was conducted to define the optimum values of aforementioned major parameters, in order to produce an improved product, in comparison with the commonly applied polyaluminium chloride. Overall, 32 silica-based coagulant samples were prepared with different OH/Al (1-2.5), or Al/Si (5-20) molar ratios and preparation methods. The coagulation performance of PASiC products were evaluated for the treatment of contaminated tap water (in terms of turbidity and of NOM removal, as well as of residual Al concentrations and of zeta-potential measurements). Also, they were examined for the tertiary treatment of municipal wastewater (mainly for phosphates removal). Additionally, the new products were compared with the laboratory prepared PACl, with alum (i.e. Al(2)(SO(4))(3).18H(2)O), as well as with commercially available PACl samples. These experiments were completed with the study of coagulation kinetics by using the Photometric Dispersion Analyzer (PDA), in order to compare the respective floc growth rates. Overall, the obtained results suggest that in order to produce a silica-based polyaluminium coagulant with improved coagulation properties, the basicity (OH/Al ratio) should be between 1.5 and 2.0, the silica content (Al/Si molar ratio) between 10 and 15 and should be prepared preferable with the co-polymerization technique. However, attention has to be given in the specific application of these products, as in the case of tertiary wastewater treatment (phosphates removal) more efficient seem to be the silica-based coagulant with lower basicity (i.e. OH/Al 1-1.5).     

Phosphorus removal performance of acid mine drainage from wastewater

Acid mine drainage (AMD) in Yunfu iron sulfide mine contain Fe(2+), Fe(3+), and Al(3+) up to 8000, 1700 and 1200 mg/L, respectively. Phosphorus removal from synthetic wastewater with 10mg/L of total phosphorus (TP) concentration and second municipal effluent with 3.5-4.0mg/L of TP concentration were conducted with the AMD by jar tests. Dosage of the AMD and initial pH of water are the two most important parameters affecting the performance of phosphorus removal of the AMD. The optimal phosphorus removal efficiency and residual iron ions (TFe) concentration are 97.0% and 3.0mg/L, respectively, at 1.61 Fe/P molar ratio and pH 8.03 for synthetic wastewater, and 92.1% and 0.32 mg/L, respectively, for second municipal effluent at 1.41 Fe/P molar ratio and pH 7.3. Resultant heavy metal concentration in effluents and precipitate was very low, and the risk of resultant heavy metal contamination was very small. The phosphorus removal performance of the AMD was much similar to that of ferric sulfate (FS) and polyferric sulfate (PFS), and better than that of FeSO(4). And residual TFe concentration in treated water arising from utilization of the AMD was similar to that of FeSO(4), and higher than that of FS and PFS. The AMD could be used as coagulant for phosphorus removal from wastewater directly due to the presence of Fe(2+), Fe(3+), and Al(3+) largely.     

Adsorption of cadmium onto Al(13)-pillared acid-activated montmorillonite

The optimal preparation conditions for Al(13)-pillared acid-activated Na(+)-montmorillonite (Al(13)-PAAMt) were (1) an acid-activated Na(+)-montmorillonite (Na(+)-Mt) solution of pH 3.0, (2) a OH(-)/Al(3+) molar ratio of 2.4 and (3) Al(3+)/Na(+)-Mt ratio of 1.0 mmol g(-1). The effects of OH(-)/Al(3+) and Al(3+)/Na(+)-Mt ratios on the adsorption of Cd(2+) onto Al(13)-PAAMt were studied. A comparison of the adsorption of Cd(2+) onto Al(13)-PAAMt, Al(13)-pillared Na(+)-montmorillonite (Al(13)-PMt) and Na(+)-Mt suggested that Al(13)-PAAMt had higher adsorption affinity for Cd(2+) than the other two adsorbents. A pseudo-second-order model described the adsorption kinetics well. Cadmium adsorption followed the Langmuir two-site equation, while desorption was hysteretic.     

Dissolution processes,hydrolysis and condensation reactions during geopolymer synthesis: Part I—Low Si/Al ratio systems

Initial geopolymeric reaction processes governing dissolution of solid aluminosilicate particles in alkali solutions have been investigated using conventional experimental techniques, and the data analysed by speciation predictions of the partial charge model (PCM). For metakaolin powders activated with 5.0 M NaOH, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra disclose the existence of monomeric [Al(OH)₄]⁻ species after two hours of dissolution, consistent with PCM predictions. However, no equivalent monomeric silicate species were observed for 5.0–10.0 M NaOH activator solutions characteristic of systems with nominal Si/Al ≤ 1. The apparent absence of monomeric silicate species suggest rapid condensation of silicate units with [Al(OH)₄]⁻ to generate aluminosilicate species, as indicated by the evolution of the shoulder at around −87 ppm in the ²⁹Si NMR spectra. Of the two possible stable silicate species [SiO₂(OH)₂]²⁻ and [SiO(OH)₃]⁻, the latter appears most likely to condense with [Al(OH)₄]⁻ to produce aluminosilicate oligomers, from which larger oligomers subsequently form through further condensation with [Al(OH)₄]⁻ leading to a gradual build up of aluminosilicate networks and a lowering of system alkalinity. This dissolution and hydrolysis sequence at the early stages of synthesis suggests a reaction path wholly consistent with predictions of the partial charge model.     

Effect of the surface treatment on the room-temperature bonding of Al to Si and SiO2

Bonding of polycrystalline Al to Si(1 0 0) and SiO2 (fused silica) was carried out at room temperature by means of surface-activated bonding method. In the present work, different means of surface activation such as irradiation of an argon fast atom beam (FAB) and a hydrogen radical beam (RB) were used. Influence of the exposure to a vacuum atmosphere of the activated surfaces by fast atom irradiation on the bonding behaviour was investigated. The strength of the Al–Si joints sputter cleaned by FAB before bonding reaches as much as 32 MPa. When the activated surfaces were exposed to 30 L (where L is the abbreviation for langmuir (1.33×10-4 Pa s)) in the residual gases (mainly vapour), the strength of the Al–Si joint decreased to 20 MPa and approached that of the Al–SiO2 joint. This indicates that the fracture strength of the joint of Al and Si with an intermediate layer of OH groups and oxide is close to that of Al and Si oxide. The adhesion between Al and Si deteriorated strongly because of hydrogen termination on the Si surface which had been irradiated by the hydrogen RB. On the contrary, bonding of Si with native oxides to Al was successful with the hydrogen RB irradiation.     

用混凝-超滤法处理低温低浊水

考察了采用混凝-超滤法处理低温低浊时期松花江水的中试试验效果,并与水厂常规处理水质进行了比较.试验结果表明:混凝-超滤法出水浊度恒低于0.3 NTU;投加20 mg/L聚合氯化铝,超滤膜对CODMn去除率达到50%~58%,膜出水色度为6~8度;此外,投加混凝剂可以使膜渗透性能得以改善.因此混凝-超滤法可以作为低温低浊水处理的有效方法.     

Diffusion barrier property of TiN and TiN/Al/TiN films deposited with FMCVD for Cu interconnection in ULSI

Flow modulation chemical vapor deposition (FMCVD) with titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) and ammonia (NH₃) is effective for depositing titanium nitride (TiN) films with conformal morphology, good step coverage, low electrical resistivity, and low chlorine residual contamination. It means that FMCVD TiN film is a good candidate of diffusion barriers for copper interconnection technology in ULSI. But the diffusion barrier property of FMCVD TiN film against Cu diffusion has not been confirmed. So, firstly, we deposited Cu (100 nm)/FMCVD TiN (25 nm)/Si multilayer films and investigated the thermal stability of Cu/TiN/Si structure. Vacuum annealing was done at 400, 500, 550 and 600 °C. For films annealed for 30 min at 400 °C, Cu diffused through the TiN layer and formed copper silicides on the surface of Si substrates. Therefore, FMCVD films formed under such conditions are unsatisfactory diffusion barriers. To enhance the diffusion barrier property of FMCVD TiN films, we used sequential deposition to introduce a monolayer of Al atoms between two TiN films. Etch-pit tests showed that for TiN films with Al interlayer, Cu diffusion through the barrier occurred at 500 °C and that is 100 °C higher than TiN film without Al interlayer. Al atoms formed AlO_x with oxygen atoms present in the TiN films as impurities, and fill up the grain boundaries of TiN film, thereby blocking the diffusion of Cu atoms.     

Disinfection by-product precursors reduction by various coagulation techniques in Istanbul water supplies

Coagulation process can be used to control natural organic matter (NOM) during drinking water production. The effectiveness of the coagulation process appeared to depend on the pH of coagulation rather than coagulant dosages. Jar tests conducted with depressed pH levels at different coagulation conditions removed more dissolved organic carbon (DOC) than those at moderate pH levels. For low DOC waters, like Omerli Lake Water (OLW), additional treatment would be necessary to achieve enhanced removal of NOM. In this study, three different coagulation techniques were used to remove disinfection by-products (DBP) precursors from three Istanbul surface water supplies. Jar test results indicate that optimize coagulation (OC) can enhance the removal of DBP precursors, and the removal of DOC could be improved from the current average of 15% to an average of 56% at the three sites tested. At lower pH, ferric coagulants generally performed better for removal of DBP precursors than did alum.     

Treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) by coagulation flocculation process using peanut–okra and wheat germ–okra

Coagulation–flocculation has been proven as one of the effective processes in treating palm oil mill effluent (POME), which is a highly polluted wastewater generated from palm oil milling process. Two pairs of natural coagulant–flocculant were studied and evaluated: peanut–okra and wheat germ–okra. This research aims to optimize the operating parameters of the coagulation flocculation process in removing turbidity, total suspended solid and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from POME by using a central composite design in the Design Expert^® software. Important parameters such as operating pH, coagulant and flocculant dosages were empirically determined using jar test experiment and optimized using response surface methodology module. Significant quadratic polynomial models were obtained via regression analyses (R²) for peanut–okra (0.9355, 0.9534 and 0.8586 for turbidity, total suspended solids and COD removal, respectively) and wheat germ–okra (0.9638, 0.9578 and 0.7691 for turbidity, total suspended solids and COD removal, respectively). The highest observed removal efficiencies of turbidity, total suspended solids and COD (92.5, 86.6 and 34.8%, respectively, for peanut–okra; 86.6, 87.5 and 43.6%, respectively, for wheat germ–okra) were obtained at optimum pH, coagulant and flocculant dosages (pH 11.6, 1000.1 mg/L and 135.5 mg/L, respectively, for peanut–okra; pH 12, 1170.5 mg/L and 100 mg/L, respectively, for wheat germ–okra). The coagulation flocculation performance of peanut–okra and wheat germ–okra were comparable to each other. Characterizations of the natural coagulant–flocculant, as well as the sludge produced, were performed using Fourier transform infrared, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscope. More than 98% of water was removed from POME sludge by using centrifuge and drying methods, indicating that a significant reduction in sludge volume was achieved.     

Dissolution processes,hydrolysis and condensation reactions during geopolymer synthesis: Part II. High Si/Al ratio systems

The mechanisms of speciation of aluminate and silicate phases during dissolution and condensation stages of alumino-silicate geopolymer reactions characterised by Si/Al ≥ 3, have been investigated and the results compared to predictions of the partial charge model. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) traces indicate that free [Al(OH)₄]⁻ species, present in lower silicate formulations such as Si/Al ≤ 1, do not occur in the present systems, suggesting that the condensation reaction between [Al(OH)₄]⁻ and silicate species is fairly quick and is consumed as soon as it is formed. This observation is also consistent with both calorimetric measurements and model predictions, as the condensation time increased exponentially with increased Si/Al ratio in the geopolymeric phase, indicating again that the high content of Al species in the gel phase greatly enhanced the condensation rate. The experimental observations suggest that the condensation process in these systems occurs in two stages: (a) quick condensation between aluminate and silicate species; followed by (b) a slow condensation stage solely involving silicate species.     

Coagulation characteristics of titanium (Ti) salt coagulant compared with aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) salts

In this study, the performance of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl(4)) coagulation and flocculation is compared with commonly used coagulants such as aluminum sulfate (Al(2)(SO(4))(3)), polyaluminum chloride (PACl), iron chloride (FeCl(3)), and polyferric sulfate (PFS) in terms of water quality parameters and floc properties. TiCl(4) flocculation achieved higher removal of UV(254) (98%), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) (84%) and turbidity (93%) than other conventional coagulants. Charge neutralization and physical entrapment of colloids within coagulant precipitates and adsorption, seemed to play a significant role during TiCl(4) flocculation, while the main mechanism for conventional coagulants was bridge-aggregation and adsorption. The aggregated flocs after TiCl(4) flocculation showed the fastest growth rate compared to the other coagulants, with the largest floc size (801 μm) occurring within 8 min. The floc strength factor of PACl, Al(2)(SO(4))(3), PFS, FeCl(3) and TiCl(4) was 34, 30, 29, 26 and 29, respectively, while the floc recovery factor of the TiCl(4) coagulant was the lowest. Based on the results of the above study, it is concluded that the TiCl(4) flocculation can reduce the hydraulic retention time of slow and rapid mixing, however, careful handling of sludge is required due to the low recoverability of the aggregated floc.     

Fluoride incorporation in hydroxyapatite/gelatin nanocomposite

The incorporation of fluoride ion into hydroxyapatite (HAp)/gelatin (GEL) nanocomposite was investigated. The F(-) ion incorporation into OH(- )site of HAp phase was an energetically active process, which could be confirmed from the spray solution reaction. The precursors of Ca(2+) in water and phosphates in aqueous gelatin were mixed in the humidified air chamber by air spray, and then the precipitates were aged in a reactor. The F(-) ion precursor was dissolved in the starting solution of Ca(OH)(2) in water, and the resulted Ca(OH, F)(2) complex droplets induced the formation of stable fluoroapatite (F, OH)Ap. The reaction kinetics could be assumed from TEM morphology with ED, XRD and FT-IR analysis.     

Al_6Si_2O_(13)晶须和TiC颗粒复合强化多孔Al_2TiO_5基复合材料

以γ-AlOOH和TiO_2为原料,添加不同质量分数SiC晶须(SiCw),采用无压反应烧结法制备多孔(Al_6Si_2O_(13)+TiC)/Al_2TiO_5复合材料,分析了SiCw质量分数对(Al_6Si_2O_(13)+TiC)/Al_2TiO_5复合材料孔隙率和抗压强度的影响,讨论了SiCw的强化机制。结果表明:不添加SiCw时,产物主要为Al_2TiO_5和少量Al_2O_3,还有少量未反应的TiO_2;加入SiCw之后,还形成了Al_6Si_2O_(13)和TiC相,TiC和Al_6Si_2O_(13)分别以规则颗粒状和晶须形态存在于Al_2TiO_5基体中。TiC颗粒与Al_6Si_2O_(13)晶须通过细化显微组织、裂纹偏转和晶须桥连机制,起到协同强化作用。SiCw的添加使孔隙率和抗压强度同时大幅度提高,随着SiCw质量分数的增加,(Al_6Si_2O_(13)+TiC)/Al_2TiO_5复合材料孔隙率降低,抗压强度提高的速率减小,当SiCw的质量分数为7.2%时,抗压强度最高,达到301.81 MPa。     

Charge-trapping characteristics of Al2O3/Cu/Al2O3 nanolaminate structures prepared through atomic layer deposition

The nanolaminate Al2O3/Cu/Al2O3 structures were constructed on p-type Si (001) substrates using atomic layer deposition (ALD) process with the aim to fabricating nonvolatile charge-trap memories. Low temperature Cu thin layers were deposited through plasma-enhanced atomic layre depositon of Cu aminoalkoxide (Cu(dmamb)2) combined with hydrogen plasma and Al2O3 layers were prepared by thermal atomic layer deposition of trimethylaluminum (TMA) combined with H2O. Nonvolatile features were confirmed using capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements. The copper film functions as a charge-trapping layer and the Al2O3 thin layers were employed as tunneling and control oxide layers. Line shapes and binding energies of Cu metal and the thin layer of 6 nm Cu in nanolaminate structures were observed in the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image. The V(FB) shift width of the Al2O3 (28 nm)/Cu (6 nm)/Al2O3 (4.2 nm)/Si laminate structure is found to be 4.75 V in voltage sweeping between -10 and +10 V, leading to the trap density of 1.68 x 10(18) cm(-3).     

载体Al/Si比对Cu-ZnO-ZrO2催化剂上CO2加氢合成甲醇的影响

用直接合成法制备了不同铝硅物质的量比Al-SBA-15(β)(β=n(Al)/n(Si)=0,0.02,0.03,0.05)介孔分子筛,并采用浸渍法制备了金属负载量m=35%的CZZ/Al-SBA-15(β)负载型介孔催化剂,考察了Al/Si比对负载催化剂结构和性能的影响。采用N_2吸附-脱附、X射线衍射(XRD)、H_2程序升温还原(H_2-TPR)、CO_2吸附(CO_2-TPD)、NH3吸附(NH3-TPD)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)等手段对样品进行了表征,在固定床反应器上评价了其CO_2加氢合成甲醇的催化性能。实验结果表明,CZZ/Al-SBA-15(β)具有介孔结构,Al的引入不但增加了载体表面酸性位点,同时还提高了催化剂表面铜分散度(DCu%)和铜比表面积(SCu)以及促进了Cu~+-O-Zn活性位的形成,从而大大提高了催化剂的活性。其中CZZ/Al-SBA-15(0.03)催化剂的甲醇选择性达到26%,与不掺铝的CZZ/Al-SBA-15(0)催化剂相比,甲醇选择性提高了11%,但随着掺Al量的继续增加,酸性太强,CO_2吸附能力下降,活性反而降低。     

Microstructure Control and Performance Evolution of Hypereutectic Al–20Mg2Si Alloy by Novel Al–Ca–Sb Masteralloy

Herein, the microstructure control and performance evolution of hypereutectic Al–20Mg₂Si alloy with the addition of novel Al–3.3Ca–10Sb master alloy are investigated. It is found that AlCa₁₁Sb₉ and CaSb₂ compounds are successfully synthesized through in situ melt reaction of masteralloy. With 0.45 wt% Al–3.3Ca–10Sb master alloy addition, primary Mg₂Si particles in hypereutectic Al–20Mg₂Si alloy are significantly refined from more than 150 μm to 10.7 μm, which are accompanied with the 3D morphologies changing from dendrites to octahedrons. After heat treatment, Brinell hardnesses of Al–20Mg₂Si alloys are remarkably improved to 112 HB. Furthermore, it is also found that the cooling rate of Al–3.3Ca–10Sb master alloys has certain influence on the refinement effect of Al–Mg₂Si alloys. The excellent complex modification of this master alloy on Al–20Mg₂Si alloy can be attributed to the existence of CaSb₂ particles as the heterogeneous nucleation sites of Mg₂Si particles and the inhibiting growth effect of residual Ca atoms adsorbed on the surface of Mg₂Si phase.     

Geopolymerization reaction,microstructure and simulation of metakaolin-based geopolymers at extended Si/Al ratios

Metakaolin-based geopolymers were synthesized at Si/Al ratios of 1:1, 1.5:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, and 5:1 by using silica fume as silica corrector to alter Si ratios. The microstructure and strength of these geopolymers were characterized through XRD, SEM, NMR and compressive strength measurements. The dissolving rates of Al and Si species in geopolymerization were measured, and freeze-dried N-A-S-H gel was characterized by FTIR spectra. Modelling and simulation were employed to calculate the binding energy of one Si atom and the total energy of geopolymers formed at various Si/Al ratios. At Si/Al ratio of 2:1, high concentrations of Si and Al species are dissolved from precursors, high contents of Si-O-T linkages are formed and the geopolymer is of high compressive strength. The mechanical strength of geopolymers at various Si/Al ratios is dependent on the formation of N-A-S-H gel, rather than the zeolitic nuclei or silicate derivatives. This study might provide fundamentals for the geopolymerization of mine tailings, which usually possess high Si/Al ratios.     

不连续界面相Al4C3对SiC/Al复合材料界面结合影响的第一性原理及实验

采用密度泛函理论的第一性原理及实验相结合的方法,探讨了不连续界面相Al₄C₃对SiC/Al复合材料界面结合的影响,并与无界面新相生成时进行对比。研究表明,当Al(111)表面吸附C原子时,在Bridge位置上吸附C原子最为稳定;随着C覆盖率的增加,C原子吸附能逐渐减小;当界面相呈不连续分布时,界面由原来的SiC/Al转变为(SiC+Al₄C₃)/Al,界面黏着功由原来的0.851 J/m2增加至1.231 J/m2,这主要由于当C原子在Al表面吸附时,C原子和Al原子间形成共价键和离子键,且与界面处的Si原子也形成共价键,从而促进界面结合。利用第一性原理计算的SiC/Al和(SiC+Al₄C₃)/Al体系黏着功与实验值较为接近,且变化规律相同,具有较高的参考价值。      

Decolourization of dye-containing effluent using mineral coagulants produced by electrocoagulation

The colour and colour causing-compounds has always been undesirable in water for any use, be it industrial or domestic wastewaters. The discharge of such effluents causes excessive oxygen demand in the receiving water and then a treatment is required before discharge into ecosystems. This study examined the possibility to remove colour causing-compounds from effluent by chemical coagulation, in comparison with direct electrocoagulation. The inorganic coagulants (C₁, C₂ and C₃) in the form of dry powder tested, were respectively produced from electrolysis of S₁ = [NaOH (7.5 × 10⁻³ M)], S₂ = [NaCl (10⁻² M)], and S₃ = [NaOH (7.5 × 10⁻³ M) + NaCl (10⁻² M)] solutions, using sacrificial aluminium electrodes operated at an electrical potential of 12 V. Reactive textile dye (CI Reactive Red 141) was used as model of colour-causing compound prepared at a concentration of 50 mg l⁻¹. The best performances of dye removal were obtained with C₂ having a chemical structure comprised of a mixture of polymeric specie (Al₄₅O₄₅(OH)₄₅Cl) and monomeric species (AlCl(OH)₂·2H₂O and Al(OH)₃). The removal efficiency (R_A) evaluated by measuring the yields of 540 nm-absorbance removal varied from 41 to 96% through 60 min of treatment by imposing a concentration of C₂ ranging from 100 to 400 mg l⁻¹. The effectiveness of the treatment increased and the effluent became more and more transparent while increasing C₂ concentration. The comparison of chemical treatment using C₂ coagulant and direct electrocoagulation of CI Reactive Red 141 containing synthetic solution demonstrated the advantage of chemical treatment during the first few minutes of treatment. A yield of 88% of absorbance removal was recorded using C₂ coagulant (400 mg l⁻¹) over the first 10 min of treatment, compared to 60% measured using direct electrocoagulation while imposing either 10 or 15 V of electrical potential close to the value (12 V) required during C₂ production. However, at the end of the treatment (after 60 min of treatment), CI Reactive Red 141 pollutant was completely removed from solution (540 nm-absorbance removal of 100%) using direct electrochemical treatment, compared to 96.4% of absorbance removed while treating dye-containing synthetic solution by means of C₂ coagulant.     

Performance optimization of coagulant/flocculant in the treatment of wastewater from a beverage industry

This study investigated the effect of coagulation/flocculation treatment process on wastewater of Fumman Beverage Industry, Ibadan, Nigeria. The study also compared different dosages of coagulant, polyelectrolyte (non-ionic polyacrylamide) and different pH values of the coagulation processes. The effect of different dosages of polyelectrolyte in combination with coagulant was also studied. The results reveal that low pH values (3-8), enhance removal efficiency of the contaminants. Percentage removal of 78, 74 and 75 of COD, TSS and TP, respectively, were achieved by the addition of 500 mg/L Fe2(SO4)3.3H2O and 93, 94 and 96% removal of COD, TSS and TP, respectively, were achieved with the addition of 25 mg/L polyelectrolyte to the coagulation process. The volume of sludge produced, when coagulant was used solely, was higher compared to the use of polyelectrolyte combined with Fe2(SO4)3.3H2O. This may be as a result of non-ionic nature of the polyelectrolyte; hence, it does not chemically react with solids of the wastewater. Coagulation/flocculation may be useful as a pre-treatment process for beverage industrial wastewater prior to biological treatment.