Evaluation of Al30 polynuclear species in polyaluminum solutions as coagulant for water treatment

Polyaluminum coagulant with a content of 76.8% of Al30 (PACAl30) was prepared. Its coagulation behaviors were compared with high Al13 content polyaluminum coagulant (PACAl13) and AlCl3. The species stability was studied using Al-Ferron method and 27Al NMR. The coagulation performances were investigated by studying the rate of flocs development, the turbidity removal efficiency and charge neutralization capacity under fixed pH conditions and uncontrolled pH conditions. The effect of pH on coagulation was also studied. The results show that PACAl30 are stable for using as coagulant. PACAl30 causes less pH depression than PACAl13. The charge neutralization capacity of PACAl30 is slightly lower than that of PACAl13 at pH ⩾ 6.8 and higher at pH ⩽ 6.5. PACAl30 achieves the most effective turbidity removal in these three coagulants. And it acts effectively within a much broader dosage range and a wider pH range when compared with PACAl13. PACAl30 achieves the highest turbidity removal due to its strong flocs formation capacity. The results verify that Al30 is another highly active coagulation/flocculation species for turbidity removal.