Flocs through the looking glass.
The paper describes the investigation of how the make up of raw water influences the physical properties of flocculated suspensions. The work focuses on the properties of four characteristic organic fractions separated as a function of their hydrophobicity. Mesoscale data indicates that the hydrophobic fractions dominate the make up of the water and are the most easily removed. Microscale and nanoscale data reveals that the fulvic acid fraction (FAF) generates statistically smaller and more compact flocs than those formed by the other fractions and the hydrophilic fractions form the most internally open and dendritic structures. The FAF fraction was also seen to dominate the zeta potential response of the raw water.
Jefferson
B
B
School of Water Sciences, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom. b.jefferson@cranfield.ac.uk
Jarvis
P
P
Sharp
E
E
Wilson
S
S
Parsons
S A
SA
D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D005427:Flocculation; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
D001578:Benzopyrans; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C005023:fulvic acid