Influence of some additives to aluminium species distribution in aluminium coagulants

Aluminium ions hydrolyse and polymerise into different species in water. Main aluminium species in aluminium coagulant solutions are monomeric Al species (Al-1) and polymeric Al species Al13O4(OH)(24)(7+) (Al-13). The aluminium species distribution in coagulant solutions can be influenced by many parameters. This paper studies influences of concentrations of total aluminium species (Al-t) and other species-OH-, polysilicic acid and ferric species, which were added in aluminium coagulant solutions, on the aluminium species distribution through 27 Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Results show that only Al-1 and no Al-13 exist in coagulant solutions at higher Al-t concentrations (over 1 mol l(-1)), while both species exist at lower Al-t concentrations (0.1 mol l(-1)). The increase of OH/Al value (molar ratio) increases the concentration of Al-13 in coagulant solutions, while the addition of polysilicic acid and ferric species decreases the concentration of Al-13. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.