[Comparison study of enhanced coagulation on humic acid and fulvic acid removal]

Enhanced coagulation effects of four coagulants, such as aluminium sulfate, ferric chloride, aluminium polychloride and poly-ferric chloride, were examined, with an emphasis on pH, turbidity, Ca+ and relative contents of humic acid and fulvic acid. The result showed that the removal efficiency of four kinds of coagulant for humic acid was higher than that for fulvic acid. Compared with aluminium polychloride and poly-ferric chloride, aluminium sulfate and ferric chloride possessed a better coagulation effect. At the coagulant dosage of 40 mg x L(-1), ferric chloride, aluminium sulfate, poly-ferric chloride and aluminium polychloride removed fulvic acid from 10 mg x L(-1) to 3.22 mg x L(-1), 4.34 mg x L(-1), 5.85 mg x L(-1) and 4.86 mg x L(-1) respectively, while the four coagulants removed humic acid from 10 mg x L(-1) to 1.13 mg x L(-1), 2.13 mg x L(-1), 3.44 mg x L(-1) and 2.50 mg x L(-1) respectively in water. At pH between 5.5 and 6.5, aluminium sullfate and ferric chloride had the best coagulation effect. The coagulant had the lower efficiency with increase of organic carbon in water. Especially, the content ratio of fulvic acid and humic acid was above 0.4, the coagulation effect markedly decreased. Turbidity has a little influence on organic carbon removal rate. With the concentration of Ca2+, the removal efficiency of humic acid and fulvic acid increased.