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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Procedure to Evaluate the Efficiency of Flocculants for the Removal of Dispersed Particles from Plant Extracts
Published on: April 9, 2016
Particle size distribution and removal by a chemical-biological flocculation process
Zhi-Bin Zhang1, Jian-Fu Zhao, Si-Qing Xia
1State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse Research, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China. zhazhb@163.com
Abstract:
The particle characterization from the influent and effluent of a chemical-biological flocculation (CBF) process was studied with a laser diffraction device. Water samples from a chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) process and a primary sediment tank process were also analyzed for comparison. The results showed that CBF process was not only effective for both the big size particles and small size particles removal, but also the best particle removal process in the three processes of CBF process, CEPT process, and PST process (primary sediment tanks). The results also indicated that CBF process was superior to CEPT process in the heavy metals removal. The high and non-selective removal for heavy metals might be closely related to its strong ability to eliminate small particles. Samples from different locations in CBF reactors showed that small particles were easier to aggregate into big ones and those disrupted flocs could properly flocculate again along CBF reactor because of the biological flocculation.
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