Effects of Mixing Conditions on Floc Properties in Magnesium Hydroxide Continuous Coagulation Process

Magnesium hydroxide continuous coagulation process was used for treating simulated reactive orange wastewater in this study. Effects of mixing conditions and retention time on the coagulation performance and floc properties of magnesium hydroxide were based on the floc size distribution (FSD), zeta potential, and floc morphology analysis. Floc formation and growth in different reactors were also discussed. The results showed that increasing rapid mixing speed led to a decrease in the final floc size. The floc formation process was mainly carried out in a rapid mixer; a rapid mixing speed of 300 rpm was chosen according to zeta potential and removal efficiency. Reducing retention time caused a relatively small floc size in all reactors. When influent flow was 30 L/h (retention time of 2 min in rapid mixer), the average floc size reached 8.06 mu m in a rapid mixer; through breakage and re-growth, the floc size remained stable in the flocculation basin. After growth, the final floc size reached 11.21 mu m in a sedimentation tank. The removal efficiency of reactive orange is 89% in the magnesium hydroxide coagulation process.