See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/317091840

A Jar Test Study on the use of Alum and Ferric Chloride for Turbidity Removal

Conference Paper · March 2017

CITATIONS READS
0 5,269

1 author:

Giridhar V S S Mittapalli
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad
145 PUBLICATIONS   28 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Hyperspectral based crop inventory View project

Rainfall View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Giridhar V S S Mittapalli on 24 May 2017.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 A Jar Test Study on the use of Alum and Ferric Chloride for Turbidity Removal

Kalavathy S.1*, Giridhar M.V.S.S.2 and Viswanadh G. K.3

1*
M.Tech Student, Centre for Water Resources, Institute of Science and Technology, J.N.T.U Hyderabad
2
Asst. Prof. and Head, Centre for Water Resources, Institute of Science and Technology, J.N.T.U Hyderabad
3
Prof. of Civil Engineering, J.N.T.U College of Engineering, Hyderabad

ABSTRACT
In-line coagulant injection facility is an innovative application technology in restoring Eutrophic lakes. In this
technology, guidelines for dose calculation and application are lacking. Coagulation in combination with
flocculation and sedimentation is a process that is commonly used in water treatment to remove undesirable
contaminants. Ferric chloride and Alum, which are the most common types of coagulants in water treatment
plants of Iran as well as many other countries, were investigated with the aim of determining their capabilities to
reduce turbidity of water sample collected from Durgam Cheruvu in the month of June 2016. In this study, Jar
tests are carried out to optimize coagulant dose and study the effect of Alum and Ferric chloride on
Physicochemical parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, SO4, NO3, Cl and Alkalinity. Results showed that
coagulation process could remove turbidity effectively using Alum and Ferric chloride tested within (50-100
mg/L) dose range. It was noted that turbidity removal is dependent on pH, coagulant dosage as well as initial
turbidity of lake for both used coagulants. The highest turbidity removal efficiency was within 66-76 % for
Alum and 71-80% for Ferric chloride over applied range of dose. Both applied coagulants demonstrated
promising performance in turbidity removal from the lake sample.
Keywords: Durgam Cheruvu, Turbidity removal, Jar test, Coagulation, Ferric chloride, Alum.

INTRODUCTION
Lakes in urban region are ecologically sensitive zones and true indicators of sustainable and progressive urban
development. Generally, the wastewater discharged to lakes contains excess levels of nutrients such as nitrogen,
phosphorous and organic substances. These are an important macro-nutrient for plant and microorganisms growth
resulting in excessive growth of algae and aquatic weeds in lakes resulting in serious impairment to water quality
leading to eutrophication. Thus, it is necessary to reduce the concentration of external phosphorus, nitrogen from
inflowing wastewater to prevent the algal bloom. To achieve this innovative method of reducing organic loading to
lakes uses engineered systems to treat lake inflows with chemical coagulants such as aluminum sulfate (Alum),
polyaluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate and iron-based coagulants like Ferric chloride, Ferric sulfate and
Ferrous sulfate. The addition of these coagulants to inflowing wastewater results in the production of chemical
precipitates which remove pollutants.
Durgam Cheruvu (Fig 1.) is a freshwater lake located in Rangareddy district, Telangana, India. The lake, which
is spread over 83 acres (34 ha), is located near the city of Hyderabad. The lake is also known as Secret Lake
because it is hidden between the localities of Jubilee Hills and Madhapur. Under the rule of the Qutb Shahi dynasty
(ca. 1518–1687), this lake served as the drinking water source for the residents of Golkonda fort. In 2001, the
tourism department of the local government initiated steps to promote the lake as a tourist destination. Because of
the unique rock formations abutting the lake, it was designated as a protected area. In 2001, the state high court
issued an order to the local pollution board and the city's water supply and sewerage board not to allow
development of new residential localities near the lake. Furthermore, the court order also asked these agencies to
take immediate steps for prevention or collection and treatment of domestic sewage flowing into the lake from the
residential colonies in the vicinity and catchment area of the lake. Despite these notifications, the local agencies
have failed in controlling both pollution and illegitimate constructions on the lake bed.

th
Proceedings of 4 National Conference on Water, Environment & Society (NCWES-2017) : ISBN : 978-93-5230-182-9 339
Copyright © 2017, Published by BS Publications. 
340 Proceedings of 4th National Conference on Water, Environment & Society (NCWES-2017)

OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this study was to estimate the efficiency of coagulant dose for coagulation of Lake Durgam
Cheruvu, by considering the maximum turbidity removal. Specific objectives were:
 To understand the process of flocculation, coagulation and settling
 To estimate the optimal dose and coagulant for treating lake water
 To evaluate the effect of coagulants on removal of turbidity
 To investigate the effect of coagulants on physicochemical parameters
 To estimate the performance of an ideal sedimentation tank

 
Figure 1 Status of Durgam Cheruvu in the month of June, 2016

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Findings on various coagulation processes have been reported in literature. Some of these include;studying the
effect of dosage and mixing conditions on the flocculation of concentrated suspensions using polymeric coagulants
(Ghaly et al., 2007; Faiku et al., 2010); coagulation of synthetic water by plant seeds (Diaz et al., 1999) and
coagulation of low turbidity water using bentonite (Shen, 2005). Guida et al. (2007) used alum as coagulant to
remove COD and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) from municipal wastewater samples. The coagulation experiments
indicated that alum effectively removed COD (65%) and TSS (>75%) on the average values of COD using 150 mg
L−1 aluminum sulfate at a pH range of 5-8 (Guida et al., 2005).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Qualitative analysis of Durgam Cheruvu sample pre and post jar test study was successfully performed in water
quality laboratory of JNTUH. The water sample was collected in the month of June 2016 at 17.4327866°N
78.3889856°E coordinates using polythene cans of 10L capacity from a depth of 0.5 m below the surface of lake.
Physicochemical parameters such as pH, EC, Turbidity, TDS, SO4, NO3, Cl and Alkalinity were measured using
Elico | Water Quality Analyzer PE 138 as per water quality guidelines and laboratory methods enforced by NEERI.
Quality report was validated by comparing the current study results to BIS 10500 : 2012. Stock solutions of 1%
Alum and Ferric chloride were prepared. All the chemicals used in the study were of Analytical grade. Jar test
experiments on the collected samples of 1L volume were used to study the performance of Aluminum Sulphate
(Al2(SO4)3.18H2O) and Ferric Chloride (FeCl3. 6H2O) coagulants on a six stirrer DBK Flocculator Jar testing
apparatus (Fig 2.) at room temperature with experimental characteristics as summarized in Table 1. At the end of
Jar test after providing sufficient settling time leaving the settled flocs aside, 50 mL of supernatant was withdrawn
from the jar of 1L capacity and thoroughly filtered using filter paper and stored for future analysis.
 Proceedings of 4th National Conference on Water, Environment & Society (NCWES-2017) 341

Table 1 Experimental characteristics for Jar test study

Characteristics Description
Coagulants Alum and Ferric Chloride
Coagulant dose range 50-100 (mg L-1)
Rapid mixing 2 min at 161 (rpm)
Slow mixing 30 min at 25 (rpm)
Settling time 2 hours
 

 
Figure 2 DBK Flocculator Jar testing Apparatus

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Figure 3 presents the results obtained for pre and post Jar test studies performed on Durgam Cheruvu samples using
Alum and Ferric chloride tested within (50-100 mg/L) dose range. Results indicated that performance of ferric
chloride was better than alum in all cases, however, turbidity removal efficiency showed an almost similar pattern
for both alum and ferric chloride. Coagulation and flocculation process is a primary and cost-effective process in
water treatment plants which can effectively remove turbidity from low to high turbidity waters when operational
condition is optimized. Optimization of pH and coagulant dose may increase the coagulation efficiency and reduce
the sludge volume and subsequently sludge management costs.Coagulant aids may improve coagulation process
and turbidity removal. But it should be considered that coagulant aids should not increase water treatment costs
significantly. Their accessibility and preparation procedure should also be considered when selecting a coagulant
aid. It should be noted that rapid mixing parameters including time and intensity of mixing, as well as slow mixing
parameters may also affect turbidity removal efficiency in coagulation process.
Basic stoichiometric reactions occuring during the coagulation process for ferric chloride and aluminum sulfate
(Alum) are given below:

The natural alkalinity of the lake is thus a key parameter for determining the allowable dosing of the water with
alum and ferric chloride. Coagulants react with available alkalinity such as carbonate, bicarbonate and hydroxide or
phosphate to form insoluble salts.
342 Proceedings of 4th National Conference on Water, Environment & Society (NCWES-2017)

         

   

        
 Proceedings of 4th National Conference on Water, Environment & Society (NCWES-2017) 343

   
Figure 3 Results obtained for pre and post Jar test studies using alum and Ferric chloride coagulants

Coagulation with Alum

Results of coagulation studies with alum shows the optimum dose of alum to be 100 mg/l for higher turbidity
removal. It was observed that the turbidity removal efficiency increased with increase in dose. It is to be noted that
addition of alum to lake sample had increasing and decreasing effects on all the physicochemical parameters tested
in the current study. A slight decrease in pH was observed with increase in dose this may be due to the reaction of
alum with available alkalinity of sample thus reducing alkalinity upon adding alum. Interestingly, The electrical
conductivity of lake samples increased beyond the permissible limits with increase in dosage which is undesirable.
This may be due to dissociation of alum in water that produced ions to increase EC. Negligible reduction in TDS
and NO3 and slight increase in SO4 and Cl parameters were observed with increasing dose of alum when compared
to the raw lake sample. Alum showed better results in reducing nitrate levels of raw lake sample when compared to
Ferric chloride.
Coagulation with Ferric Chloride
Results of coagulation studies with ferric chloride shows the optimum dose to be 100 mg/l for higher turbidity
removal. It was observed that the turbidity removal efficiency increased with increase in dose. It is to be noted that
addition of ferric chloride to lake sample had increasing and decreasing effects on all the physicochemical
parameters tested in the current study. Decrease in pH after ferric chloride addition was slightly greater than alum
with increase in dose. This may be due to the reaction of ferric chloride with available alkalinity of sample thus
reducing alkalinity much more than alum. The electrical conductivity of lake sample negligibily increased with
increase in dosage. Negligible reduction in TDS and NO3 and slight increase in SO4 and Cl parameters were
observed with increasing dose of ferric chloride when compared to the raw lake sample.
Coagulation processes do not reduce turbidity alone, and in some cases, turbidity increases during the
coagulation process because the coagulant adds more particles to the water being treated. The combined process of
coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation are required to reduce turbidity. In this study highest turbidity removal
efficiency was within 66-76 % for Alum and 71-80% for Ferric chloride over applied range of dose. Both applied
coagulants demonstrated promising performance in turbidity removal from the lake sample.

CONCLUSIONS
The Jar test experiments using Alum and Ferric chloride indicated that coagulation process effectively removed
turbidity from Durgam Cheruvu samples applied over 50-100 mg/L dose range. The highest turbidity removal
efficiency was within 66-76 % for Alum and 71-80% for Ferric chloride. Generally results showed that turbidity
removal efficiency was almost same for Aluminium sulphate and Ferric Chloride. However, the sludge volume
344 Proceedings of 4th National Conference on Water, Environment & Society (NCWES-2017)

obtained after settling of flocs were comparitively high in case of Ferric chloride than Alum. Formation of larger
flocs can cause problems during filtration stage. Hence, clogging of filters must be avoided by regular maintenance
to enhance coagulation results. Turbidity removal efficiency was insufficient to meet national drinking water limits
of India (5 NTU) at tested doses. The reason may be due to raw water characteristics leading to poor settling which
is causing an impact in reducing the removal efficiency to certain extent. Water sources with poor settling
characteristics would require a longer amount of time for flocculation and sedimentation in order to significantly
decrease the water’s turbidity. Application of different dosage and alternative coagulants to meet allowable limits
should be further studied. Investigating the influence of agitation time and settling time for varying doses and pH
conditions on turbidity removal by other coagulants is suggested for future studies.

REFERENCES
Pathan Mohsinkhan G, KolateSurajR, LondheSagar R, Mate Umesh A, "Comparative study of alum and ferric chloride for
removal of turbidity from water", International Journal of Innovative Research in Science and Engineering, Vol.No.2,
Issue 03, March 2016
Roopa.C, Sadashiva Murthy. B.M, " Evaluation of Optimal dose and pH of an in-line Alum facility to inlets in Kukkarahalli
lake, Mysore", International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, Vol.No.3, Issue 5,
May 2014
James A. Noblet, " A Jar Test Study on the use of Alum for Turbidity and nutrient removal in Canyon Lake, CA ", submitted
to MWH Americas, Inc. Arcadia, CA, December 2012
Kokila A. Parmar, SarjuPrajapati, Rinku Patel and YogeshDabhi, “Effective Use Of Ferrous Sulfate And Alum As A
Coagulant In Treatment Of Dairy industry wastewater”, ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, VOL. 6,
2011
Akbar Baghvand, Ali DaryabeigiZand, Nasser Mehrdadi and AbdolrezaKarbassi, “Optimizing Coagulation Process for Low to
High Turbidity Waters Using Aluminum and Iron Salts”, American Journal of Environmental Sciences 6, 2010
Hamidi Abdul Aziz, Salina Alias, FaridahAssari, Mohd. NoridinAdlan “The use of alum, ferric chloride and ferrous sulphate
as coagulants in removing suspended solids, colour and COD from semi-aerobic landfill leachate at controlled pH”
Journal of Industrial Technology 10, 2010

View publication stats