Abstract
The correlation between polymeric aluminum species of coagulant and its coagulation efficiency was investigated using several commercial polymeric Al(III) inorganic coagulants (Poly Aluminum Hydroxy Chloro Sulfate 2020 (PAHCS2020), Poly Aluminum Hydroxy Chloro Sulfate 2500 (PAHCS2500) which was introduced in Korean water treatment plants. The poly aluminum chloride (PAC), Poly Aluminum Hydroxide Chloride Silicate (PACS)) and the aluminum salts ($AlCl_3$, Alum ($Al_2(SO_4)_3$)) were used for the purpose of comparison. The comparison of the coagulation efficiency of each coagulant was made by turbidity removal through the standard jar testing procedure and the determination of the hydrolytic Al(III) species was made by the ferron method which can differentiate the monomeric aluminum species from the polymeric aluminum species. Overall, PAHCS2020 and PAHCS2500 showed the better performance in turbidity removal than the aluminum salts. The performance of coagulation was even better without adjustment of pH during the coagulation experiment. The positive correlation between polymeric aluminum species of coagulant and coagulation efficiency was found.