Determinação de relação entre parâmetros representativos da Distribuição de Tamanho de partículas (DTP), Dimensão fractal (Df) e o Índice de Floculação (IF) obtido por meio do equipamento de análise de dispersão fotométrica (PDA)

Abstract

Coagulation and flocculation steps are crucial for conventional water treatment once the characteristics of the formed flakes are important for the subsequent separation processes. Thus, the study of the characteristics of these flakes is important to enhance the process. In these terms, this study aimed to obtain Particle Size Distribution (PSD) and Fractal Dimension (Df) parameters and relate them with the Flocculation Index (FI), obtained from the Photometric Dispersion Analyzer. (PDA), projecting the determination of the PSD parameters and Df using the FI as the calculation parameter. The tests were conducted on a Jartest bench equipment for several standard coagulation/flocculation conditions for 10, 50 and 100 NTU turbidity water. The PSD and Df parameters were obtained through digital image acquisition which were applied processing techniques and analysis using Image J software, while the FI was obtained through the PDA equipment. Data were related using the software R through linear and nonlinear regressions, and ANOVA analysis was also performed to evaluate the statistical significance of the modeled equations. At the end of the study, it was concluded that some of the obtained equations can be used as a tool to obtain the PSD parameters for the Aluminum Sulfate and Aluminum Polychloride coagulants, highlighting the equations that aim to determine the value of the characteristic parameter of the PSD (β1) calculated by means of the equivalent diameter of the flakes.