EKC 493 Chemical Engineering Laboratory III

UO 6
SEDIMENTATION STUDY UNIT : RATE OF SEDIMENTATION OF KAOLIN
POWDERS IN WATER
6.1 Introduction:
Sedimentation, or clarification, is the process of letting suspended material settle by
gravity. Suspended material may be particles, such as clay or silts, originally present in the
source water. More commonly, suspended material or floc is created from material in the
water and the chemical used in coagulation or in other treatment processes, such as lime
softening.
Sedimentation is accomplished by decreasing the velocity of the water being treated to a
point below which the particles will no longer remain in suspension. When the velocity no
longer supports the transport of the particles, gravity will remove them from the flow.
Several factors affect the separation of settleable solids from water. Some of the more
common types of factors to consider are:
The size and type of particles to be removed have a significant effect on the operation of
the sedimentation tank. Because of their density, sand or silt can be removed very easily.
The velocity of the water-flow channel can be slowed to less than one foot per second, and
most of the gravel and grit will be removed by simple gravitational forces. In contrast,
colloidal material, small particles that stay in suspension and make the water seem cloudy,
will not settle until the material is coagulated and flocculated by the addition of a chemical,
such as an iron salt or aluminum sulfate.
The shape of the particle also affects its settling characteristics. A round particle, for
example, will settle much more readily than a particle that has ragged or irregular edges.
All particles tend to have a slight electrical charge. Particles with the same charge tend to
repel each other. This repelling action keeps the particles from congregating into flocs and
settling. [1]
6.2 The Experimental Unit
The experimental unit is a simple assembly of five cylinders made of borosilicate glass
with removable PVC cap.(O.D.:53 mm,thickness: 2 mm, length1,000 mm)
The cylinders are mounted on a vertical back-panel which is illuminated from behind.
Measuring scales are provided for each of the cylinders to measure the suspension height.
Each of the cylinders may be removed from the board for filling and mixing of the solid
particles as well as for cleaning.
Approximately Two beakersmade of polypropylene (Capacity 2,000 ml) are required for
the conduct of the experiment.

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A front view of the assembly of the rig is shown in Figure 6.1.

Figure 6.1 Front View of the Sedimentation Unit

6.3 Experimental Procedures:

a)

Filling the cylinder

Prepare the solution in the plastic beaker. Remove the cylinder cap and slowly pour the
solution into the cylinder.
b)

Emptying the cylinder

Hold the top and middle section of the glass cylinder and pull the cylinder carefully away
from the back panel.
c)

Backpanel illumination

Plug the power cord into a power socket.

d)

General Requirements
Electrical

24OVAC/l phase/5OHz

Water

Laboratory tap water

Stopwatch

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6.4 Theory:
At the beginning of a batch sedimentation process, the solid is uniformly distributed in the
liquid, as shown in Figure 6.la. The total depth of the suspension is Z0 After a short while,
the solids have settled to give a zone of clear liquid, zone A and a zone D of settled solids
as in Figure 6.lb. Above zone D is a transition layer, zone C, in which the solids content
varies from that in the original pulp to that in zone D. In zone B, the concentration is
uniform and equal to the original concentration, since the settling rate is the same through
out this zone. The boundaries between zones D and C and between C and B may not be
distinct, but the boundary between zones A and B is usually sharp.
The depths of zones D and A increase as settling continues. The depth of zone C remains
nearly constant, and that of zone B decreases as shown in Figure 6.1c. Eventually zone B
disappears and the solids are all in zones C and D (see Figure 6.1d). Meanwhile, the
gradual accumulation of solid puts stress on the material at the bottom, which compresses
solids in layer D. Compression breaks down the structure of the flocs or aggregates, and
liquid is expelled into the upper zones. Sometimes liquid in the flocs spurts out of zone D
like small geysers as layer D compresses. Finally, when the weight of the solid is balanced
by the compressive strength of the flocs, the settling process stops, as shown in Figure
6.le. This entire process as shown in figure 6.2 is called sedimentation.

Figure 6.2 : Batch Sedimentation

A typical plot of interface height (the boundary between zones A and B) vs. time is shown
in figure 6.3. During the early stages of settling the velocity is constant, as shown by the
first portion of the curve When zone B disappears, the rate of settling starts to decrease

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steadily drops until the ultimate height is reached.. In many instances the interface height
may still be decreasing after long height and the ultimate height can only be estimated

Figure 6.3 : A typical rate of sedimentation for kaolin at concentration of 0.025g/L

Slurries vary greatly in their settling rates and in the relative heights of various zones
during settling. The initial rate is a function of the feed concentration, but in the late
stages, the settling rate also depends on the initial height Z0 since compression effects are
more important with the thicker sludge layers. The design of an industrial thickener will
need for an experimental studies of the settling rate for different initial heights and
concentrations.
6.5 Experiment A: The effect of initial concentration and initial suspension height upon
sedimentation rates.
6.5.1 Objectives:
The effect of initial concentration and initial suspension height upon the sedimentation
rates will be studied.

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6.5.2 Procedures
1. Prepare five different sets of kaolin solutions as follows:
a) Cylinder 1
Concentration :50g of kaolin in 2 L of water
Z0

:90 cm

b) Cylinder 2
Concentration :100g of kaolin in 2 L of water
Z0

:90 cm

c)Cylinder 3
Concentration :150g of kaolin in 2 L of water
Z0

:90 cm

d)Cylinder 4
Concentration :100g of kaolin in 2 L of water
Z0

:60 cm

e) Cylinder 5
Concentration :100g of kaolin in 2 L of water
Z0

:30 cm

2. Stir the solution in Cylinder 1 until a uniformly distributed solids in the liquid is
achieved. Record initial time, t0
3. Record the height of clear liquid interface, Z every 5 minutes intervals until the
settling process stops as shown in figure 2. Record final time, tf
4. Repeat step 2 and 3 for Cylinder 2, 3, 4, 5.
NOTE:

Student may choose to run all five cylinders simultaneously.

5. Record the final setting height, Zf for each cylinder

6. Plot the height of clear liquid interface, Z vs. setting time, t

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6.5.3 Results and Report:

Z0
Cylinder

Z0
(cm)

t0
(min)

Time interval (min)

5

90

90

90

60

30

tf

Zf

10 . 50

a)
Discuss the effects of initial concentrations upon sedimentation rates by comparing
the curves for cylinders 1, 2 and 3 in part A.
b)
Discuss the effects of initial suspension heights upon sedimentation rates by
comparing the curves for cylinders 2, 4 and 5 in part A.

6.6 Experiment B: The effect of flocculating agents upon sedimentation rates.

6.6.1 Objectives:
The effect of flocculating agent will also be studied.
6.6.2 Procedures:
1.

Prepare five different sets of kaolin solution as follows:

a) Cylinder 1
Concentration

100g of kaolin in 2 L of water

Z0

90 cm

Flocculant

5 ml

100g of kaolin in 2 L of water

b) Cylinder 2
Concentration

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Z0

90 cm

Flocculant

10 ml

Concentration

100g of kaolin in 2 L of water

Z0

90 cm

Flocculant

15 ml

Concentration

100g of kaolin in 2 L of water

Z0

90 cm

Flocculant

20 ml

Concentration

100g of kaolin in 2 L of water

Z0

90 cm

Flocculant

25 ml

c) Cylinder 3

d) Cylinder 4

e) Cylinder 5

2.

Stir the solution in Cylinder 1 until a uniformly distributed solids in the liquid is
achieved. Record initial time, t0.

3.

Record the height of clear liquid interface, Z every 5 minute interval until the
setting proses stops as shown in figure 2e. Record final time, tf

4.

Repeat steps 2 and 3 for Cylinder 2, 3, 4 and 5.

NOTE: Student may choose to run all five cylinders simultaneously.

5.

Record the final settling heights, Zf for each cylinders.

6.

Plot the height of clear liquid interface, Z vs. settling time, t.

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6.6.3 Results and Report:

Z0
Cylinder

Z0
(cm)

t0
(min)

Time interval (min)

5

90

90

90

60

30

tf

Zf

10 . 50

a) Discuss the effects of flocculating agents upon sedimentation rates by comparing the curves
for cylinders 1 to 5 in part B
References:
[1] http://www.mrwa.com/sedimentation.htm

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