Forms of flocculation and polymer adsorption

The term perikinetic flocculation is used to describe a process where after addition of a polyelectrolyte the degree and the rate of flocculation are governed by Brownian motion alone. No shear forces are used to help promote flocculation. If it is assumed that every contact between particles leads to adhesion, then the rate of perikinetic flocculation is given by 

The adsorption of polymers to the surface of particles leads to the two fundamental mechanisms of flocculation by polyelectrolytes. These are commonly referred to as the electrostatic or charge patch mechanism and the bridging mechanism and may act individually or, in some instances, simultaneously. 

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