What are coagulants used for in wastewater treatment?

Coagulants are substances added to wastewater during treatment processes to facilitate the aggregation of particles. This process, known as coagulation, helps to clump very fine particles together into larger aggregates called flocs. The formation of these flocs is crucial because it improves the efficiency of subsequent treatment steps, such as sedimentation and filtration. When particles are clumped together, they become heavier and can more easily settle out of the water, allowing for clearer effluent.

Using coagulants is particularly important in treating water that contains a high concentration of suspended solids and colloidal matter, which are too small to settle by gravity alone. By effectively combining these small particles into larger groups, coagulants play a key role in enhancing the overall efficiency of wastewater treatment systems.