title: Parallel studies on dewatering and conditioning of an alum sludge and an aluminium hydroxide suspension.
abstract: The paper shows a comparison between properties of an alum sludge gained from the coagulation of a coloured water with those of a suspension of aluminium hydroxide at a concentration equivalent to the coagulant fraction within the sludge. Background information is provided on composition and aspects of the source floc. The comparisons embraced floc size, polymer adsorption, and dewatering parameters including specific resistance to filtration, capillary suction time and the equilibrium moisture content under pressure. In all cases, there were strong similarities in the behaviour of the two suspensions. It is suggested that such features emanate from a common fractal structure within the source floc, whose fractal index (approximately/= 1) has been found to be insensitive to the composition of the floc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Papavasilopoulos
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Bache
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry*; D000327:Adsorption; D000534:Alum Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D005374:Filtration; D005427:Flocculation; D010316:Particle Size; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000534:Alum Compounds; D014867:Water; C041524:aluminum sulfate; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide