Evaluation of Coagulation Characteristics of Fe(III) and Al(III) Coagulant using On-line Monitoring Technique

Effects of coagulation types on flocculation were investigated by using a photometric dispersion analyzer (PDA) as an on-line monitoring technique in this study. Nakdong River water were used and alum and ferric chloride were used as coagulants. The aim of this study is to compare the coagulation characteristics of alum and ferric chloride by a photometric dispersion analyzer (PDA). Floc growing rates ( $R_v$ ) in three different water temperatures ( $4^{\circ}C$ , $16^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$ ) and coagulants doses (0.15 mM, 0.20 mM and 0.25 mM as Al, Fe) were measured. The floc growing rate ( $R_v$ ) by alum was 1.8~2.8 times higher than that of ferric chloride during rapid mixing period, however, for 0.15 mM~0.25 mM coagulant doses the floc growing rate ( $R_v$ ) by ferric chloride was 1.1~2.3 times higher than that of alum in the slow mixing period at $16^{\circ}C$ water temperature. Reasonable coagulant doses of alum and ferric chloride for turbidity removal were 0.1 mM (as Al) and 0.2 mM (as Fe), respectively, and the removal efficiency of those coagulant doses showed 94% for alum and 97% for ferric chloride. The appropriate coagulant dose of alum and ferric chloride for removing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) showed about 0.3 mM (as Al, Fe) and at this dosage, DOC removal efficiencies were 36% and 44%, and ferric chloride was superior to the alum for removal of the DOC in water.