Join 60,000+ competitive exam aspirants
Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?
In plain sedimentation tanks, the removal of particles is independent of the depth of the sedimentation tank.
Coagulation is a chemical technique that is directed towards the destabilisation of charged particles and the flocculation promotes the agglomeration of stabilised particles.
Filters purify water through the following four different processes: mechanical straining, flocculation and sedimentation, biological metabolism and electrolyte charges charging.
Activated carbon is a de-chlorinating agent.
Coagulation is a chemical technique that is directed towards the destabilisation of charged particles and the flocculation promotes the agglomeration of stabilised particles.
The statement in Option B is incorrect because it swaps the definitions of coagulation and flocculation. Coagulation is the chemical process of destabilizing charged colloidal particles by neutralizing their surface charges using coagulants (like Alum), whereas flocculation is the physical process of bringing these destabilized particles together through gentle mixing to form larger flocs.
CPHEEO Manual on Water Supply and Treatment
The statement in Option B is incorrect because it swaps the definitions of coagulation and flocculation. Coagulation is the chemical process of destabilizing charged colloidal particles by neutralizing their surface charges using coagulants (like Alum), whereas flocculation is the physical process of bringing these destabilized particles together through gentle mixing to form larger flocs.
vsтАЛ=18╬╜g(SsтАЛтИТ1)d2тАЛ тАФ Stokes' Law for settling velocity of particles
G=╬╝VPтАЛтАЛ тАФ Velocity gradient for flocculation where P is power, ╬╝ is dynamic viscosity, and V is volume
In coagulation, coagulants like aluminum sulfate (Al2тАЛ(SO4тАЛ)3тАЛтЛЕ18H2тАЛO) provide positive ions to neutralize the negative zeta potential of colloidal particles. Once destabilized, flocculation occurs via collision of particles under slow velocity gradients (G), allowing them to agglomerate into settleable flocs.
Sedimentation efficiency depends on surface overflow rate (v0тАЛ=AQтАЛ), making it independent of depth for ideal tanks.
Mechanical straining, sedimentation, biological action, and adsorption represent the removal mechanisms in rapid sand filters.
Activated carbon removes chlorine through surface adsorption reactions: C+2Cl2тАЛ+2H2тАЛOтЖТCO2тАЛ+4HCl.
Coagulation involves charge neutralization; Flocculation involves particle collision.
Coagulation-Flocculation effectively removes turbidity and color.
Activated carbon provides dual benefits of dechlorination and taste/odor removal.
High chemical dosage in coagulation increases sludge volume.
Improper flocculation leads to carryover of light flocs to the filter bed.
Water treatment plants for municipal supply.
Industrial effluent treatment to remove colloidal impurities.
The surface overflow rate (v0тАЛ) is defined as AQтАЛ, where Q is discharge and A is the plan area of the tank.
Option B is the incorrect statement as it attributes charge destabilization to flocculation instead of coagulation.
B is correct тАФ It incorrectly defines the roles of coagulation and flocculation by interchanging their primary functions.
Always remember that in sedimentation tanks, if the surface area is constant, increasing the depth does not improve the removal efficiency for ideal particles; therefore, surface overflow rate is the key design parameter.