Water Treatment Processes

Content
• Aeration
• Solids Separation
• Settling Operations
• Coagulation
• Softening
• Filtration
• Disinfection
• Dissolved Solids Removal
 Aeration
• It is a process sometimes used in preparing potable
water
• It may be used to remove undesirable gases dissolved in
water (degasification) or to add oxygen to water to
convert undesirable substances to a more manageable
form (oxidation)
• Often used to treat groundwater, as most surface
waters have been in contact with the atmosphere for a
sufficient period of time for gas transfer to occur
naturally
• Groundwater may contain CO2 and H2S (biological waste
products from bacterial decomposition of org. matter in
the soil or by-products of reduction of S from mineral
deposits)
 Aeration
• Fe and Mn are common elements widely
distributed in nature
• In the absence of oxidizing agents, both of these
elements are soluble in water
• Forming compounds with other soluble ions, both
Fe and Mn are soluble in significant quantities
only in the +2 oxidation state
• Upon contact with oxygen, or any other oxidizing
agents, both ferrous iron and manganese are
oxidized to higher valences, forming new ionic
complexes that are not soluble to any appreciable
extent
 Aeration
(Water-in-air Systems)
• Both degasification and oxidation are
governed by the principles of gas transfer
• Liquid-gas contact systems are designed to
drive the water-gas mixture toward
equilibrium as quickly as possible, for
degasification purposes and to provide
supersaturation of oxygen for oxidation
purposes
• When water is dispersed into the air, the
interfacial area per vol of water is max by min
drop size increasing the desorption rate
 Gas Transfer
Gas-liquid contact with gas transfer between the phases

Gas

Desorption
Absorption

Liquid
 Aeration
Fountains Cascade Tray towers
towers
Feature Consist of a piping grid Consists of a Similar in nature to cascade
suspended over a catch basin. series of towers in that the water is
Nozzles located at the waterfalls that lifted and allowed to fall to
intersection of the pipes are drop into small a lower elevation.
fixed to direct the flow pools.
upward. Spray aerators
designs include system
pressure, nozzle spacing, and
flow rates per nozzle.

How it Once its kinetic energy is Water is exposed It intercepts the flow with
works dissipated, water falls back to the solid surfaces over which
into the catch basin where it atmosphere in the water must pass in its
is recovered thin sheets as it downward journey.
cascades down
each step.
 Aeration
(Air-in-water Systems)
• Another method of aerating water is to disperse
the air into the water. Both absorption and
desorption are enhanced by maximizing the
interfacial area, in this case by minimizing the air
bubble
• Air-in-water systems consist of tanks 2.5 – 5 m
deep thru which the water flows. Air is then
injected thru a porous bottom or thru spargers
near the bottom.
• This type of device has found greater use in WWT
than in potable treatment
 Solids Separation
• Sedimentation and clarification are commonly
used interchangeably with regard to
preparation of potable water.
• They both convey the idea of physically
separating solid material from water.
• Separation may occur by flotation if water is
denser than solid matter
• In the preparation of potable water, virtually
all solids requiring removal are heavier than
water, therefore, sedimentation with gravity as
the driving force is the most common
separation technique
 Settling Operations
• SS originally present in water or DS which
have been precipitated in the course of other
treatment process are some materials that
may be removed by sedimentation
• Settling basins employed for solids removal in
water treatment plants are classified as:
▪ long-rectangular
▪ circular
▪ Solids-contact clarifiers
 Settling Operations
(Long-rectangular basins)
▪ Long-rectangular basins are commonly used in
treatment plants processing large flows
▪ This is hydraulically more stable, and flow
control through large volumes is easier
 Settling Operations
(Circular Basin)
Circular basins have the same functional zones as the
long-rectangular basin, but the flow regime is quite
different.
When the flow enters at the center and is baffled to
flow radially toward the perimeter, the horizontal
velocity of the water is continually decreasing as the
distance from the center increases
Advantages:
▪ sludge removal mechanisms are simpler
▪ require less maintenance
▪ Excessive weir flow is not a problem bec the entire
circumference is used for overflow
 Aeration
(Solids-Contact Basins)
Although solids-contact basin differ considerably from either
circular or long-rectangular basins with respect to flow regimes,
they still make use of the principles of sedimentation.
The upward velocity of the flow works contrary to the settling
velocity of the suspended particles.
The creation of a solids blanket is an important part of an upflow
clarification
Upflow velocity Solids concentration
(m/h) (% by weight)
Flocculent sludges/ 1
blanket (at liquid-solid interface) 3
Non-flocculated slurries 2 5
As a factor of safety Upflow velocity must be ½ of settling velocity of
particle that is to be removed at 1.5 m below
the top of the cone
 Coagulation
• All surface waters contain perceptible turbidity
• Plain sedimentation will not be very efficient for the
smaller suspended particles
• Agglomeration of particles into groups, increasing
the effective size and therefore the settling velocities,
is possible in some instances
• In water treatment plants, chemical coagulation is
usua. accomplished by the addition of trivalent
metallic salts such as Al2(SO 4)3 or FeCl3
• Four mechanisms occur: ionic layer compression,
adsorption & charge neutralization, entrapment in a
flocculent mass, and adsorption & interparticle
bridging
 Jar Tests for Optimum Coagulant Dosage
• Selection and optimum dosages of coagulants are determined
experimentally by the jar test instead of quantitatively by
formula
• The jar test must be performed on each water that is to be
coagulated and must be repeated with each significant change
in the quality of a given water

The jar test is performed using a series of glass containers that hold at least 1 L and are of uniform size and shape.
Normally 6 jars are used with a stirring device that simultaneously mixes the contents of each jar with a
uniform power input. Each of the 6 jars is filled to the 1-L mark with water whose turbidity, pH and alkalinity
have been predetermined. One jar is used as a control while the remaining 5 are dosed with different
amounts of coagulant(s) at different pH values until the minimum values of residual turbidity are obtained.
After chemical addition, the water is mixed rapidly for about 1 min to ensure complete dispersion of the
chemicals, then mixed slowly for 15-20 mins to aid in the formstion of flocs. The water is next allowed to
 Softening
• is a process of reducing hardness commonly
practiced in water treatment
• Softening process commonly used are
- chemical precipitation; and
- ion exchange
• Either may be used at utility-owned treatment
plant
• Home-use softeners are almost exclusively
ion-exchange units
 Softening
(Chemical Precipitation)
• The least soluble forms of hardness are
calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide
• Chemical precipitation is accomplished by
converting calcium hardness to calcium
carbonate and magnesium hardness to
magnesium hydroxide
• This can be accomplished by the lime-soda ash
process or by the caustic soda process
 Softening (Ion Exchange)
• Ion exchange can remove a wide variety of DS
including hardness
• It involves replacing calcium and magnesium in the
water with another, nonhardness cation, usually
sodium
• Although the solid material does not directly enter
into the reaction, it is a necessary and important part
of the ion exchange process
• Early application used zeolite, more often used now
is synthetic resin coated with the desirable exchange
material
• Synthetic resins have the advantage of a greater no.
of exchange sites and are more easily regenerated
 Filtration
• In modern water-treatment plants, filtration is most
often a polishing step to remove small flocs or precipitant
particles not removed in the settling of coagulated or
softened waters.
• Although filtration removes many pathogenic organisms
from water, it should not be relied upon for complete
health protection
• Most commonly used filtration process involves passing
the water thru a stationary bed of granular medium.
• Solids in the water are retained by the filter medium.
• Modes of operation include: upflow, biflow, pressure,
vacuum filtration, and gravity filtration in a downward
mode with the weigh of the water column above the
filter providing the driving force.
 Disinfection
• Disinfection refers to operations aimed at killing or
rendering harmless, pathogenic microorganisms.
• Sterilization, the complete destruction of all living
matter, is not usua. the objective of disinfection.
• Other processes that assist in removing pathogens
include coagulation, settling and filtration to remove
in excess of 90 % of the bacteria and viruses.
• Excess-lime softening is an effective disinfectant due
to the high pH involved.
• However, additional disinfection processes may be
practiced to comply with the potable water standard
and to provide protection against regrowth.
 Disinfection
• Factors which militate against effective disinfection
are:
▪ turbidity & resistant organisms (turbidity-producing
colloids may offer sanctuary to organisms and
particulate matter may absorb the disinfectant)
▪ viruses, cysts and ova (more resistant to disinfectants
than bacteria); additional exposure time and higher
concentrations may be needed
• Disinfectants include chemical agents (halogen group,
ozone, or silver); irradiation with gamma wave or UV
light; and sonification, electro-cation, heating or
other physical means
• In the US, disinfection and chlorination have become
synonymous terms
 Dissolved Solids Removal
❑ In some instances, water supply may contain
materials that are not removed by the conventional
water-treatment processes
• Ex: Groundwater with excessive DS
• Surface waters that contain organic compounds from
domestic or industrial WW or naturally occurring
organics such as humic and fulvic acids or products
of algal blooms
❑ Target contaminants in DS removal processes may be
inorganic minerals or refractory organic compounds
 Dissolved Solids Removal
Inorganic Material
• Demineralization and desalinization are synonymous
terms applied to the removal of inorganic mineral
substances from water.
• This is often accomplished by selective, staged
ion-exchange units or by processes employing the
use of semi-permeable membranes.
• Both procedures require virtually complete removal
of SS prior to their application
 Dissolved Solids Removal
Inorganic Material
o Ion Exchange
• Na ions are exchanged for Ca and Mg ions on an
equivalence basis
• For demineralization, exchanged ions must not
contribute DS to the effluent which can be done by
exchanging hydrogen for the dissolved cations and
hydroxide for the dissolved anions.
• The two then combine in equal amounts to form H2O
leaving no residual and not affecting the pH
• Two steps: cations are removed first followed by
anions
 Dissolved Solids Removal
Inorganic Material
o Microporous Membranes
• demineralization of water can be accomplished
using thin, microporous membranes
• Two basic modes of operation in use:
1. reverse osmosis(RO) - use of pressure to drive water
thru the membrane against the force of osmotic
pressure
2. Electrodialysis – use of electrical forces to drive ions
thru ion-selective membranes
• The membrane commonly used in RO is composed of
cellulose acetate and is about 100 µm thick.
 Dissolved Solids Removal
Inorganic Material
oMicroporous Membranes – 3 basic membrane configurations

1.Spiral-wound system – membrane and support material are placed in

alternate layers rolled into a cylindrical shape, and placed in tubes of
suitable material
 Dissolved Solids Removal
Inorganic Material
o Microporous Membrane
2. Tubular systems – the membrane and its porous
support system are formed to fit inside a
containment tube of up to 125 mm in diameter.
Product water is withdrawn from the porous support
medium, while the concentrate passes thru the core
of the membrane
3. Hollow-fiber membranes – extremely small, dia. of
1.0 µm or less being common. The large wall
thickness to diameter ratio provides a good radial
strength and fibers can be suspended in the fluid
without the use of the support medium
 Dissolved Solids Removal
Spiral-wound system Tubular systems Hollow-fiber membranes

Advantages
Generally provide higher Generally provide higher
flow rates flow rates
Typical flux rates of 0.1 m3 Typical flux rates of 0.1 m3 Lower flux rates
/m2.d /m2.d

More surface area available

Disadvantages
Susceptible to fouling Susceptible to fouling
Often used in Better suited for WWT Often used in
demineralizing potable because membrane fouling demineralizing potable
water can be minimized by water
increasing the flow rate
thru the tube
 Dissolved Solids Removal
(Reverse Osmoses & Electrodialysis)
• RO systems can operate 90 % efficiency or better
with respect to total dissolved solids.
In addition to inorganic ions, the membranes also
remove residual organic molecules, turbidity,
bacteria, and viruses.
• Electrodialysis process uses a series of
membranes made from ion-exchange resins.
Contact time of 10-20 secs has a removal eff. of
about 25-60%. Under ideal conditions, approx. 90
% of the feed in water is deionized, with the ions
being concentrated in the remaining 10%
 Dissolved Solids Removal
Organic Material
1. Adsorption
• can be defined as the accumulation of substances at the
interface bet. the two phases (solid & liquid); adsorbate
(material removed from the liquid phase):; adsorbent
(material providing the solid surfaces)
• Activated carbon (adsorbent most commonly used in water
and wastewater treatment)
• in WWT, powdered activated Carbon can be added to the
aeration basin and removed with the biological solids in the
secondary clarifier. In this case, both the refractory and
biodegradable organics are adsorbed
 Dissolved Solids Removal
Organic Material
2. Chemical Oxidation
• Alternative to the adsorption process in both potable and
WWT system
• Large, complex organic molecules can be broken into simpler
compounds by strong oxidants like ozone or chlorine
• further oxidation by chemical or biological means may result
in stable end products
• Added advantages of this process may include ammonia
removal, oxidation of inorganic substances (Fe & Mn) and
disinfection
 Next Topic:
Engineered Systems for WWT and Disposal
Primary treatment (screening, comminuting, grit removal,
primary sedimentation)
Secondary treatment (activated sludge, ponds and
lagoons, attached culture systems, secondary clarification,
disinfection of effluents)
Sludge treatment and disposal (sludge thickening,
sludge digestion and sludge disposal)
Advanced wastewater treatment
Wastewater disposal and reuse
Thank You