Physico-chemical treatment of municipal wastewater. Coagulation-flocculation

This article traces the possibilities of physico-chemical treatment of domestic sewage with particular attention to coagulation-flocculation processes. As coagulants the following have been used: ferric chloride, hydrated lime and alum. Different types of coagulant aids have been used too. Besides pilot-plant experiments, a large number of batch experiments has been carried out in order to determine the range of optimal doses of coagulants/coagulant aids/pH and so on. The fate of specific organic and inorganic components (proteins, detergents, low organic acids, phosphorus, nitrogen) as well as TOC, BOD and COD in this chemical treatment have been studied. The suspended and most of the colloidal fractions have efficiently been removed. A considerable fraction, which is defined as soluble, has been removed too. The significance of the findings for wastewater treatment processes have been discussed.