Floc size distributions in dissolved air flotation of Winnipeg tap water

A bench-scale continuous flow dissolved air flotation (DAF) system was operated using Winnipeg tap water. Three different dosages of alum were applied: 41.7 mg l(-1), 25.5 mg l(-1) and 15.5 mg l(-1). Floc size distributions formed at different coagulant dosages were analyzed to identify characteristics of floc size distribution optimal for flotation. Alum dose of 25.5 mg l(-1) was found to be optimal for the bench scale DAF unit in this study. At this dosage, the DAF effluent achieved a turbidity of 0.25 NTU and color of 3.8 TCU, significantly lower than that for the tap water. The optimum floc size distribution at the dose of 25 mg l(-1) had the logarithmic mean size of 27 microm which was close to the size of air bubbles produced by the saturator in this study (30 microm). The results of this study suggest that the DAF treatment process is optimized when the logarithmic mean floc size and bubble size are equal.