The principle of action of flocculants

Flocculant is a chemical substance used in water treatment, sewage treatment, and other liquid treatment processes. The principle of its action is to change the surface properties of suspended particles or colloids in the solution, promote them to aggregate into large clumps, and then precipitate or filter them out, achieving the goal of purifying water quality.

Specifically, the principle of action of flocculants includes the following aspects:

Electrochemical action: Flocculants can change the surface charge of suspended particles or colloids, making them carry the same charge, resulting in a decrease in electrostatic repulsion force and making it easier for particles to adsorb and aggregate.

Adsorption: Some groups in the flocculant molecules can react with some groups on the surface of suspended particles or colloids, forming chemical or ionic bonds, thereby promoting adsorption and aggregation between particles.

Bridging effect: Some groups in the flocculant molecule can simultaneously react with two or more groups on the surface of suspended particles or colloids, forming a bridging structure, thereby promoting aggregation between particles.

Coagulation: Some functional groups in the flocculant molecules can form hydrogen bonds or van der Waals forces with water molecules, forming a coagulation system that causes condensation between suspended particles or colloids.

Sedimentation effect: Through the above actions, flocculants can promote the formation of large agglomerates of suspended particles or colloids, thereby increasing their specific gravity and settling speed, ultimately being precipitated or filtered out.

It should be noted that different types of flocculants have different principles of action and scope of application, and the selection of appropriate flocculants should be based on specific circumstances. At the same time, attention should be paid to controlling factors such as dosage, pH value, and stirring time during use to ensure the effectiveness of the flocculant.