Humic substances molecular weigth effect on coagulation with Fenton\'s reagent, flocculation and flotation of waters with the same true color

Author(s)

Marcelo De Julio

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2005-11-25

Examining board members

Luiz Di Bernardo; Sidney Seckler Ferreira Filho; Carlos Gomes da Nave Mendes; Eduardo Fausto de Almeida Neves; Bernardo Arantes do Nascimento Teixeira

• Advisor: Luiz Di Bernardo

Abstract

Humic substances\' presence in water destined for supply has brought many problems, such as halogenated byproducts formation, mainly when chlorine is used as preoxidant. With Fenton\'s reagent there is no formation possibility of these undesirable halogenated compounds, since the strong oxidative power of Fenton\'s reagent is due to hydroxyl radical (OH). In addition, with the same chemical product, it is possible to have the preoxidation and coagulation of organic compounds, because Fenton\'s reagent consists of Fe+2 ions and hydrogen peroxide application under acid conditions, with Fe+2 oxidized to Fe+3. Since these ions form hydrolyzed species that act as coagulants, Fenton\'s reagent can have the double function of oxidation and coagulation on treatment processes. Because of this, the current work proposed a methodology to use Fenton\'s reagent as coagulant agent in the treatment of waters having high true color caused by the introduction of humic substances extracted by peat. Besides this, humic substances molecular weight effect on coagulation, flocculation and flotation of waters was studied; for this, 4 distinct waters having the same true color were prepared, but with different humic substances molecular weights, obtained by ultrafiltration fractioning. Through optimization of coagulant dosage and respective coagulation pH and posterior construction of coagulation diagrams for each studied water, it was verified that the water prepared withthe smallest molecular weight humic substances was more difficult to treat, requiring higher coagulant (Fenton\'s reagent) dosages compared with the waters prepared with larger molecular weight humic substances. Furthermore, experiments of filtration after flotation were carried out, trying to simulate a complete cycle treatment, which verified that with Fenton\'s reagent, employed as coagulant agent, the filtered water reached the brazilian potable standards concerning the measured parameters (apparent color < ou = 3 HU, turbidity < 0.5 TU and residual total iron < 0.005 mg/L). The absorbance and total organic carbon values of filtered water were also very low, indicating that the disinfection byproducts formation with chlorine would be insignificant. (AU)