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Virginia Tech

Evaluation of alternative pretreatment methods for use in direct filtration water treatment

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of alum alone, alum in conjunction with a polymeric coagulant aid, and a primary coagulant polymer in the coagulation-flocculation-sedimentation portion of a water treatment process and to study the implications of the results with respect to future use in direct filtration. The performance of the coagulant, coagulant aid, and primary coagulant polymer was evaluated by altering the flocculation and sedimentation retention times in the pretreatIDEnt process chain. Among the water quality parameters monitored were turbidity, pH, total alkalinity, total hardness, and total solids. A brief literature review for direct filtration and coagulation-flocculation theory was also conducted. The results of this investigation indicated that reduced retention times in the pretreatment process chain treated the selected raw waters sufficiently to enable consideration of direct filtration a viable treatment alternative. Analysis of data obtained indicated the use of polyelectrolyte as a primary coagulant or coagulant aid produced a pinpoint floc which is essential to successful utilization of direct filtration and that the floc formed settled more rapidly than floc from use of aluminum sulfate alone. The use of a polyelectrolyte as a primary coagulant or coagulant aid also reduced the chemical dosages required to provide appropriate turbidity removals.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Sanitary Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Sanitary Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1977

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Eberly, Harold Thomas
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • King, Paul H.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Sherrard, Joseph H.
  • Boardman, Gregory D.

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-06122010-020238
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/43241

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Eberly, Harold Thomas. Evaluation of alternative pretreatment methods for use in direct filtration water treatment. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1977. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/43241