Flocculation and coagulation are two essential processes in water treatment and wastewater treatment. While they are related, they serve slightly different purposes:
Coagulation:
Coagulation is the initial step in water treatment, where a coagulant (commonly a metal salt like aluminum sulfate or ferric chloride) is added to untreated water.
The coagulant destabilizes suspended particles and colloids by neutralizing the negative charges on their surfaces.
This process creates larger and heavier particles known as flocs.
Coagulation aims to make these tiny particles clump together but does not form visible flocs on its own.
2.Flocculation:
Flocculation is the subsequent step following coagulation.
During flocculation, gentle mixing or stirring is applied to the water.
This promotes the collision and aggregation of the smaller coagulated particles (flocs) into larger and more visible masses.
The result is the formation of larger and denser flocs that are easier to settle or filter out.
In summary, coagulation initiates the process by neutralizing charges and causing tiny particles to come together, while flocculation helps these smaller particles collide and form larger flocs. Together, coagulation and flocculation work to remove impurities, suspended solids, and colloidal particles from water, making it clearer and more suitable for various purposes, including drinking water and industrial processes.
