Enhanced Coagulation of Viral Particles with Molecular Clusters of Alum and Zeolites
Viral particulate removal is an issue of current concern for scientists working in water treatment plants. We know that chlorine effectively kills many microorganisms present in water. Since the disinfection stage is usually the last in water treatment plants, it could happen that in the previous stages colloidal-size particles, including viruses, could have passed the coagulation and filtration stage, leading to a more dense concentration of microbial particulates in the disinfection stage. Hence, the amount of chlorine used might not be sufficient to kill all microbes, and if there is excess chlorine, the higher formation of associated disinfection by-products (e.g., chloroform) could be harmful for the consumers. The objective here is to have a more efficient or enhanced coagulation stage, so it could remove most of the very small particles, not just viruses, but other organic and inorganic matter as well, before it reaches the disinfection stage. This could be done by using a better coagulant combination of Alum (Aluminum Sulfate) and a zeolite called Clinoptilolite. The Clinoptilolite sieve size used for the experiments was the #140 (106?m). The results in each test showed that viral removal was complete after thirty minutes of adding the alum and Clinoptilolite to the infected water. Turbidity was also reduced, having clear water after sixty minutes.
School:
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
Department:
Electrical Engineering
Research Advisor:
Benito Mariñas
Department of Research Advisor:
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Year of Publication:
2006