Flocculation process mixing

The results of this study clearly show the complex dependence of the flocculation process on polymer dosage and charge density. It is seen that the form of dependence varies markedly among the responses monitored. In addition to the factors studied here, it can also be expected to depend upon several other physicochemical conditions of the system, including the type of mixing. The final state of flocculation achieved by a mineral/polymer system will depend upon many interactions in the system as determined by various chemical and hydrodynamic properties of the particles, polymer, dissolved organics and the fluids. 

Continuous flocculation in stirred tanks shows similar trends with regard to agitation/mixing conditions as for batch systems. The overall performance of continuous flocculation processes tends to be inferior to that which can be obtained in batch systems. This is attributed to a closer approach to equilibrium in the continuous case. In-line flocculation, by injection of polymer into turbulent flow in a pipe, is widely practised in industry and offers certain advantages. Multiple addition at several points along the length of a pipe is preferred to single-point addition. 

One of the promising new technologies for separation of very fine particles is selective flocculation. The selective flocculation process has been used effectively to separate very finely disseminated minerals from mixed ore suspensions (5.). The process is based on the preferential adsorption of an organic flocculant on the wanted minerals, thereby flocculating them, while leaving the remainder of the suspension particles dispersed. The dispersion of certain components in the suspension such as pyrite can be enhanced by using more selective or powerful dispersants. Methods for achieving selective flocculation and dispersion have been recently described by Attia (6j. 

R.J. Francois and A. A. Van Haute, Choice of a rapid mixing time in a flocculation process, in Proc. 8th Int. Congress CHISA 84, Prague, September 1984. 

Both experiments and computer simulations demonstrated the fractal character of the mixed floes. The optimal schizophyllan biopolymer/hematite concentration ratio obtained by simulation was smaller than that observed in laboratory experiments. The shift in the optimal dose was mainly attributed to a higher than predicted affinity of hematite for the schizophyllan aggregates present in the initial solution in addition to the presence of a large proportion of chains that did not participate in the flocculation process [12]. 

US 4450012 Messer Bayer Coated Flocculation-resistant, Mixed Phase Pigments Having a Rutile Structure, Process for their Preparation, and Their Use 05/22/84 EP075197... 

In the case of thickeners, the process of compaction of the flocculated material is important. The floes settle to the bottom and gradually coalesce under the weight of the material on top of them. As the bed of flocculated material compacts, water is released. Usually the bed is slowly stirred with a rotating rake to release trapped water. The concentrated slurry, called the underflow, is pumped out the bottom. Compaction can often be promoted by mixing coarse material with the substrate because it creates channels for the upward flow of water as it falls through the bed of flocculated material. The amount of compaction is critical in terms of calculating the size of the thickener needed for a particular operation. The process of compaction has been extensively reviewed in the Hterature (41,42). 

Dilution. In many appHcations, dilution of the flocculant solution before it is mixed with the substrate stream can improve performance (12). The mechanism probably involves getting a more uniform distribution of the polymer molecules. Since the dosage needed to form floes is usually well below the adsorption maximum, a high local concentration is effectively removed from the system at that point, leaving no flocculant for the rest of the particles. A portion of the clarified overflow can be used for dilution so no extra water is added to the process. 

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