UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY CE112 Page 1

Environmental Engineering

WATER TREATMENT PROCESSES

Objectives:
- remove dissolved and particulate pollutants
- color
- turbidity
- specific organic or inorganic compounds
- inactivate pathogenic microorganisms

Processes:
- coagulation
- filtration (including membrane filtration)
- adsorption
- oxidation/disinfection

COAGULATION
Physical steps:
- colloid destabilization and aggregation
- separation of aggregates
- sedimentation
- filtration

Colloid Stability
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Environmental Engineering

Overview of Coagulation--Flocculation Process Aggregation of Particulates

Phenomenon Action Terminology Facility Involved

Formation of active Preparation of coagulant (dilution, Chemical handling Chemical handling and
coagulant species dissolution) (coagulant preparation) feeding equipment
Treatment dispersion of coagulant Rapid mixing, Mixing device for rapid
chemical reactions with ligands Flash mixing. and thorough dispersion
(OH-, SO42- ) e.g. hydrolysis, Initial mixing of chemical; high turbu-
polymerization, complex forma- lence, high-shear envi-
tion ment

Particulate Compression of double layer by in- Aggregation

destabilization different electrolytes
Charge neutralization by specifically Coagulation
adsorbed charged species
Surface precipitation and formation
of interparticle ''bridges''
Coagulant precipitation and entrap-
ment (sweep floc) of particulates

Particulate Random collisions, due to thermal Flocculation

transport motion of water molecules a. Perikinetic
(Brownian motion) flocculation

Ordered collisions due to differential b. Orthokinetic Flocculation basins and

relative particulate velocities flocculation mixing devices for low-
achieved by mixing and differen-
shear turbulence
tial settling

Chemicals Used
- alum Al2(SO4)3@ 14 H2O - acids: H2SO4, HCl
- ferric chloride FeCl3 - bases: NaOH, NaHCO3, Na2CO3
- poly-aluminum chloride
- organic polymers: anionic, cationic, non-ionic

Formation of Particles
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Environmental Engineering

UNIT PROCESSES, OPERATIONS AND EQUIPMENT

Chemical Storage
- bulk storage (2 weeks-1 month+)
- dosing strength (1 shift - 1 week)

Feeders
- dry chemical
- liquid: metering pumps

Flash Mixers
- in line
- mechanical

Complete mixing within 1 - 3 sec

Mixing intensity:
- velocity gradient G=(P/:V)1/2
G = 600-1000 s-1
- Camp No = Gt = 1000-2000

where
P - power dissipated
: - water viscosity
V - volume

Flocculators
- hydraulic: baffled channels
- mechanical
- vertical-shaft
- horizontal-shaft
- proprietary designs
"Accelator", "Pulsator"

Design criteria:
- detention time 15-30 min
- velocity gradient G
conventional treatment
10-50 s-1
direct filtration 20-100 s-1
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Environmental Engineering

Pulsator - proprietary design of Degremont

water depth - 15-18 ft; design is based on nominal overflow rate of 2.5 gpm/ft2
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Environmental Engineering

Actiflo - A combined flocculation and settling unit using micro-sand

Proprietary design of Kruger, Inc (Vivendi)
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Environmental Engineering

Sedimentation Basins

- rectangular
- circular (less often)

Design parameters
- overflow rate 0.3-0.6 gpm/ft2
- detention time 2-4 hrs
- water depth 10-15 ft

Granular Filtration

Material
- sand
- anthracite
- garnet
(- GAC)

Single medium
Dual media
Mixed media

Gravity
Pressurized (10 ft. dia max)

Type Filtration Rate Medium Cleaning

gpm/ft2

Slow 0.05-0.1 sand 2-4 ft, schmutzdecke removal

d10=0.15-0.3mm, d90/d10 <3

Rapid 24-36 in sand backwash

single 2-5+ d10=0.35-0.6mm every 12-72 hrs
medium d60/d10 <1.8 - water alone 3-15 min
15-25 gpm/ft2

dual 2-8+ sand 6-12 in - water with air

d10=0.35-0.5mm 3-5 scfm/ft2 (air), 3-5 min
d60/d10 <1.3 15-25 gpm/ft2, 4-8 min
anthracite 20-28 in - during backwash media
d10=0.8-1.2mm, d60/d10 <1.5 - expansion 30-50%
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Environmental Engineering

PROCESS CONFIGURATIONS

Conventional In-line Filtration

- Flash mixing - Flash mixing filtration rates 4-5 gpm/ft2

- Flocculation - Flocculation often w/ polymer addition
- Sedimentation - Filtration even shorter filter runs
- Filtration - Disinfection careful operation req'd
- Disinfection possible lower water
quality
Direct Filtration
- Flash mixing filtration rates 4-5 gpm/ft2 Solids Contact "Pulsator"
- Flocculation often w/ polymer addition
- Filtration shorter filter runs - Flash mixing
- Disinfection careful operation req'd - Proprietary reactor

Slow Sand Filtration

Advantages
Efficient performance with no chemical destabilization
Little operational sophistication necessary
Turbidity reductions of 90 percent
Coliform reductions of 85-99 percent
Reduction of organics
Ability to use a broad range of filter media
Disadvantages
Greater site requirements than rapid sand filters and
higher costs
Poor algae removals
Treated water turbidity of less than 1.0 NTU may not be
attainable and color removal may be low or ineffective.
If coagulation and settling precede slow sand filters,
algae, color and turbidity may not be a problem, but the
complexity of operation is increased and rapid sand
filters would be a more economical solution.

MEMBRANE FILTRATION
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Environmental Engineering

Membrane Process Trans-membrane Pressure System Recovery Pure Water Flux

kPa % l@hr-1 m-2 bar-1
Reverse Osmosis (RO) 800 - 8000 20 - 80 1-5
Nanofiltration (NF) 350 - 1000 60 - 90 2-10
Ultrafiltration (UF) 50 - 700 80 - 95+ 20-400
Microfiltration (MF) 30 - 300 80 - 95+ 200-500
Specific surface area: 1000 m3/m2 Length: 1-2 m (spiral wound) 2-4 m (hollow fiber)

Problems:
- scaling
- fouling
- colmatage
- membrane integrity

Costs (based on very few installations)

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Environmental Engineering