PROCEDURE:

On the first half of the experiment, the first thing that the students did was to weigh the

appropriate amount of pulverized chalk from the screening experiment depending on the assigned

percent weight. To have a constant volume of water, 1600 mL, the students measured 1600 mL of water

before putting the chalk and mixing it with the water until a homogenous mixture was seen. After mixing

thoroughly the mixture, it was then transferred to the sedimentation tube and the initial height of the

slurry was recorded. Again, the sedimentation tube was shook for 20 minutes to produce a consistent

suspension. From there, the sedimentation tube was placed in the supporting frame and at the first hour,

the height of the slurry was recorded at a one- minute interval. At the second hour, the height of the

slurry was again recorded but at a ten- minute interval. Subsequently, the mixture was allowed to stand

for 24 hours to record the ultimate height of the sludge- clear liquid interface. The same procedure was

done for a constant volume of slurry which is 1600 mL.

For the treatment of the data, the height of the interface as a function of time was plotted as

well as the sludge as a function of time for all the different slurry concentration. From there, a

sedimentation tank/ thickener was designed considering the area of the thickening, the area of

clarification, the solids loading and the hydraulic loading rate. The concentration of slurry at different

sedimentation time was also determined and plotted as a function of time. A curve showing the

relationship between the settling rate and the solids concentration was also prepared.

On the second half of the experiment, the same procedure with that of the first half was done

but this time a single concentration batch was prepared, 5% chalk in the water, with different slurry

volumes: 1000 mL, 1200 mL, 1400 mL and 1600 mL. The initial height of the slurry was also recorded

and at the same time intervals with that of the first half of the experiment, the height of the interface

and the height of the sludge was recorded. The mixture was also allowed to stand for 24 hours to

determine and record the ultimate height of the sludge- clear liquid interface. The same way of treating

the data was also done. The interface height as a function of time and the sludge as a function of time
were also plotted and curves showing the relationship between the settling rate and the solids

concentration were done.

 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

1. Why are the sedimentation tanks and thickeners commonly employed in removing suspended solids

in water?

Sedimentation is a unit operation where in suspended particles are separated by settling it through

gravity. Meanwhile, thickeners are also in lined with the process of sedimentation but by means of

concentrating the solids. Sedimentation is commonly seen in wastewater treatment plants specifically

in primary and secondary treatment. In the primary settling tank, sedimentation helps in reducing the

load on subsequent treatment units while in the secondary settling tank, sedimentation helps in

removing large percentage of suspended solids from the treated wastewater which will be carried

into the effluent and then into the streams where the effluent is usually discharged. As for the

thickeners, these are used to reduce the water content retained by the sludge. The reason for this is

to reduce the volume of the sludge. And by this a smaller sludge digester or less dewatering

equipment will be used.

2. Name chemical industries (at least 5) that employ sedimentation in treating water.

The chemical industries that usually employ sedimentation in treating water are petrochemical

industries, mining industries, pulp and paper industries, pharmaceutical industries and polymer

industries.

3. When is the critical point of sedimentation said to be reached.

The critical sedimentation point or compression point is said to be reached when the settling zone is

going into compression. That is, the height of the slurry is already beginning to be constant and

when there is a single distinct interface forms between the clear liquid and sediment.

4. Describe the effect of each of the following factors upon sedimentation rate:
 a. Concentration of slurry

The concentration of slurry is inversely proportional to that of the sedimentation rate. That is, the

more concentrated the slurry is, the lower the sedimentation rate.

b. Height of slurry

The higher the height of the slurry, the faster is the sedimentation rate.

c. Wall of sedimentation tube

The smoother the wall of the sedimentation tube, the faster the sedimentation rate. This is

because if the wall of the sedimentation tube is rough, the particles will not settle immediately

because the roughness of the wall is hindering the particles to settle down.

5. What data are needed to design the area of the sedimentation tanks or thickeners for a certain

purpose?

The main purpose of the primary settling tanks is to remove suspended solids from the

wastewater treatment plant influent. Secondary clarifiers are located downstream of the plant's

biological treatment facilities, such as aeration basins or tricking filters, and are used to separate the

biomass generated during the secondary treatment process from the treated plant effluent. Key

design criteria used for sizing primary settling tanks are surface overflow rate and hydraulic detention

time, while secondary settling tanks are usually designed based on surface and solids loading rates.

In specifying a water and wastewater sedimentation tank size, the major features to be considered

are: tank cross sectional area, tank depth, and type of cleaning mechanism used. While in specifying

a design basis for water and wastewater sedimentation tanks; three conditions are commonly

considered: solid handling capacity (kg/day), overflow rate (lpm/m2), and detention time.
 COMPUTATION

A. Constant Volume of Water

I. Mass of Chalk

Wt. % = 100
+

1g= 1mL

3.5 % = 100
+1600

Mass of chalk = 58.03 g

Actual mass of chalk= 58.05 g

II. Concentration

Co = 2

4

where D= 5.05 cm and Ho= 14.1 cm

1
56.91 1000
C1 = 1 2 1
(5.05 ) (14.1 )
4 100 100

C1 = 201.5101
3

1 1
C2 =

201.5101 (123 )
3
C2 =
111

C2 = 223.2950
3

223.2950 (111 )
3
C3 =
100

C3 = 247.8575
3

247.8575 (100 )
3
C4 =
91

C4 = 272.3709
3

B. Constant Volume of Slurry

I. Density of the Chalk

Mchalk= 10.07 g, Vi= 42 mL, Vf= 47.5 mL

Vchalk= (47.5 42)mL = 5.5 mL

10.07
=
5.5

= 1.8309

II. Mass of Chalk

1g= 1 mL

0.035=
1
+[ (1600 )( 1) ]
1 1.8309 1

Mass of chalk = 56.9038 g

Actual mass of chalk= 56.91 g

III. Concentration

Co = 2

4
 where D= 5.05 cm and Ho= 14.1 cm

1
56.91 1000
Co = 1 2 1
(5.05 ) (14.1 )
4 100 100

C0 = 201.5101
3

1 1
Ci =

201.5101 (141 )
3
C1 =
123

C1 = 230.9994
3

230.9994 (123 )
3
C2 =
111

C2 = 255.9723
3

255.9723 (111 )
3
C3 =
100

C3 = 284.1293
3

IV. Area of the Thickening, A

Hu =

201.5101 ( 141 )
3
Hu =
692.9986 3

Hu = 41 mm

At Hu = 41 mm in Graph 1.1, tu = 90.25 mins.

A=

 1 1 3 60
1600 90.25
A= 1000 1000 1
1
141
1000

A = 61.4468 m2

V. Area of Clarification, Ac

( )
Qc =

1 1 3 60
1600 (14141)
Qc = 1000 1000 1
141

3
Qc = 0.0681


Wt. % =
+