Flocculation morphology: effect of particulate shape and coagulant species on flocculation

Flocculation morphology is a new concept that investigates the morphological characteristics of colloidal particles and coagulants in water during the flocculation process, and the influence that these characteristics have on flocculation process efficiency. This paper is a summary of advances in research on this topic over several years. Morphological characteristics of colloids in natural waters and different kinds of hydrolysed coagulants are investigated, and their effect on colloid stability, flocculation kinetics and efficiency is analysed. It is confirmed that the traditional theory has some deviations in coagulation of nonspherical particles, and these deviations are revised by the flocculation morphology model. Flocculation morphology can not only promote research about flocculation theory, but also instruct the production, application and flocculation control. It can be foreseen that more progress will be made in research and application of flocculation morphology in the near future.