Chemical aspects of coagulation using aluminum salts-II. coagulation of fulvic acid using alum and polyaluminum chloride

This is the second of a two-part series investigating chemical aspects of coagulation using AI salts. Part I of the series examined the hydrolytic reactions of AI. In this paper, the coagulation of fulvic acid (FA) by alum and polyaluminum chloride (PACI) is examined. An Al speciation methodology was used to examine complexation reactions between Al and FA for water treatment conditions. From pH 5 to 7 and at typical coagulant doses, hydrolysis and complexation of Al is described by a simple model based on the reaction stoichiometry between AI, FA and OH^-. Model results show that when alum is used as a coagulant, Al complexed with FA is hydrolyzed to a ligand number, n = 2.7. This is similar to the ligand number for the prehydrolyzed PACI and explains similarities in dose requirements for these coagulants. Effects of temperature on coagulation performance are shown to be largely chemical in nature. Chemical aspects of coagulation are discussed and the importance of complex formation in coagulation is examined.