Flocculation (in polymer science): Reversible formation of aggregates in which the particles are not in physical contact.
Agglomeration (except in polymer science)
Coagulation (except in polymer science)
Flocculation (except in polymer science)
Process of contact and adhesion whereby dispersed molecules or particles are held together by weak physical interactions ultimately leading to phase separation by the formation of precipitates of larger than colloidal size.
- In contrast to aggregation, agglomeration is a reversible process.
- The definition proposed here is recommended for distinguishing agglomeration from aggregation. The particles that comprise agglomerates can be dispersed again.
- This quotation is fromthe Purple Book (Compendium of Polymer Terminology and Nomenclature: IUPAC Recommendations, 2008).[2]
Incolloidal chemistry,flocculation is a process by whichcolloidal particles come out ofsuspension to sediment in the form of floc or flake, either spontaneously or due to the addition of aclarifying agent. The action differs fromprecipitation in that, prior to flocculation, colloids are merely suspended, under the form of a stable dispersion (where the internal phase (solid) is dispersed throughout the external phase (fluid) through mechanical agitation) and are not truly dissolved insolution.
Coagulation and flocculation are important processes in fermentation and water treatment with coagulation aimed to destabilize and aggregate particles through chemical interactions between the coagulant and colloids, and flocculation to sediment the destabilized particles by causing their aggregation into floc.[clarification needed]
According to theIUPAC definition, flocculation is "a process of contact and adhesion whereby the particles of a dispersion form larger-size clusters". Flocculation is synonymous withagglomeration and coagulation/coalescence.[3][4]
Basically, coagulation is a process of addition of coagulant to destabilize a stabilized charged particle. Meanwhile, flocculation is a technique that promotes agglomeration and assists in the settling of particles. The most common used coagulant isalum, Al2(SO4)3·14H2O.
The chemical reaction involved:
During flocculation, gentle mixing accelerates the rate of particle collision, and the destabilized particles are further aggregated and enmeshed into larger precipitates. Flocculation is affected by several parameters, including mixing shear and intensity, time andpH. The product of the mixing intensity and mixing time is used to describe flocculation processes.
The process by which the dosage and choice of flocculant are selected is called a jar test. The equipment used for jar testing consists of one or more beakers, each equipped with a paddle mixer. After the addition of flocculants, rapid mixing takes place, followed by slow mixing and later the sedimentation process. Samples can then be taken from the aqueous phase in each beaker.[5]
Incolloid chemistry, flocculation refers to the process by which fineparticulates are caused to clump together into a floc. The floc may then float to the top of the liquid (creaming),settle to the bottom of the liquid (sedimentation), or be readilyfiltered from the liquid. Flocculation behavior of soil colloids is closely related to freshwater quality. High dispersibility of soil colloids not only directly causes turbidity of the surrounding water but it also induceseutrophication due to the adsorption of nutritional substances in rivers and lakes and even boats under the sea.
Foremulsions, flocculation describes clustering of individual dispersed droplets together, whereby the individual droplets do not lose their identity.[6] Flocculation is thus the initial step leading to further ageing of the emulsion (droplet coalescence and the ultimate separation of the phases). Flocculation is used in mineral dressing,[7] but can be also used in the design of physical properties of food and pharmaceutical products.[8]
In amedical laboratory, flocculation is the core principle used in various diagnostic tests, for example therapid plasma reagin test.[9]
Incivil engineering, and in theearth sciences, flocculation is a condition in whichclays, polymers or other small charged particles become attached and form a fragilestructure, a floc. In dispersed clayslurries,flocculation occurs after mechanical agitation ceases and the dispersed clay platelets spontaneously form flocs because of attractions between negative face charges and positive edge charges.
Flocculation is used inbiotechnology applications in conjunction withmicrofiltration to improve the efficiency of biological feeds. The addition of synthetic flocculants to thebioreactor can increase the average particle size making microfiltration more efficient. When flocculants are not added, cakes form and accumulate causing low cell viability. Positively charged flocculants work better than negatively charged ones since the cells are generally negatively charged.[10]
Flocculation is widely employed to measure the progress ofcurd formation in the initial stages ofcheese making to determine how long the curds must set.[11] The reaction involving therennetmicelles are modeled bySmoluchowski kinetics.[11] During the renneting of milk the micelles can approach one another and flocculate, a process that involveshydrolysis of molecules and macropeptides.[12]
Flocculation is also used during cheesewastewater treatment. Three different coagulants are mainly used:[13]
In the brewing industry flocculation has a different meaning. It is a very important process infermentation during the production of beer where cells form macroscopic flocs. These flocs cause the yeast to sediment or rise to the top of a fermentation at the end of the fermentation. Subsequently, the yeast can be collected (cropped) from the top (ale fermentation) or the bottom (lager fermentation) of the fermenter in order to be reused for the next fermentation.
Yeast flocculation is partially determined by the calcium concentration, often in the 50-100ppm range.[14] Calcium salts can be added to cause flocculation, or the process can be reversed by removing calcium by addingphosphate to form insoluble calcium phosphate, adding excesssulfate to form insoluble calcium sulfate, or addingEDTA tochelate the calcium ions. While it appears similar to sedimentation in colloidal dispersions, the mechanisms are different.[15]
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Flocculation andsedimentation are widely employed in thepurification ofdrinking water as well as insewage treatment, storm-water treatment and treatment of industrial wastewater streams. For drinking water, typical treatment processes consist of grates, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, granular filtration and disinfection.[16] The coagulation and flocculation steps are similar, causing particles to aggregate and fall out of solution, but may use different chemicals or physical movement of water.[17] A variety of salts may be added to adjust the pH and act asclarifying agents, depending on the water chemistry. These includesodium hydroxide,calcium hydroxide,aluminum sulfate,aluminum oxide,ferric sulfate,ferric chloride,sodium aluminate, with flocculant aidspolyaluminum chloride,polyferric chloride.[17] A variety ofcationic,anionic, andnon-ionicpolymers are also used, typically with amolecular weight below 500,000.[17]Polydiallyldimethyl ammonium chloride (polyDADMAC) and epiDMA (acopolymer ofepichlorohydrin anddimethylamine) are common choices, though these can produce carcinogenicnitrosamines.[17] Sand, powerderedactivated carbon, and clay may also be used asnucleating agents; in some cases, these are re-used after extraction.[17]
Biopolymers, especially,chitosan, are increasingly popular as environmentally friendly flocculants.[18] Chitosan is not only biodegradable but also exhibits a unique ability to bind with a wide range of contaminants, including heavy metals and organic pollutants, effectively removing them from water sources.[19]
Flocculation provides promising results for removing fine particles and treating stormwater runoff from transportation construction projects, but are not used by most state departments of transportation in the U.S. This may be due to regulative restrictions or insufficient guidance forsoil sampling requirements in light of changing soil characteristics. States that must achieve a numeric turbidity limit are more inclined to use flocculants to ensure the appropriate level of treatment.[20]
Deflocculation is the opposite of flocculation, sometimes known aspeptization.Sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) is a typical example. Usually, in higherpH ranges, in addition to lowionic strength of solutions and domination of monovalent metalcations, thecolloidal particles can be dispersed.[21]The additive that prevents the colloids from forming flocs is called a deflocculant. For deflocculation imparted through electrostatic barriers, the efficacy of a deflocculant can be gauged in terms ofzeta potential. According to the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Polymers deflocculation is"a state or condition of a dispersion of a solid in a liquid in which each solid particle remains independent and unassociated with adjacent particles (much likeemulsifier). A deflocculated suspension shows zero or very low yield value".[21]
Deflocculation can be a problem in wastewater treatment plants, as it commonly causes problems withsludge settling and deterioration of theeffluent quality.
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