Degrémont has a tradition of sharing its Degrémont Water Treatment
employees’ passion for water treatment with
the public.
To supplement the Water Treatment
Handbooks, Degrémont has issued the
«Handbook Factsheets» to promote a better
understanding of the different techniques available and
discovery of the new products and major technological changes.
AquadafTM - SeadafTM - GreendafTM
Surface water clarification Sea water clarification
H I G H S P E E D F
FLOTATION
Flotation is a process of solid-liquid or liquid-liquid separation
which, as opposed to settling, applies to aggregates whose
density is lower than that of the liquid which contains them.
These aggregates are collected, in fine, in the form of scum
(floating sludge) at the upper surface of the equipment.
Flotation is said to be natural if the difference in density
between the aggregates and the water is naturally sufficient for
separation.
Flotation is said to be aided if it uses external means (air or air
and reagents) to improve the separation of particles which are
naturally buoyant (but with an insufficient separation rate).
Flotation is said to be induced when the density of the particle,
originally higher than that of the liquid, is artificially reduced to
induce its flotation. It takes advantage of the capacity of certain
solid (or liquid) particles to combine with gas bubbles (of air
in general) to form “composites” which are less dense than
the liquid in which they constitute the dispersed phase. A
three-phase (gas-liquid-solid) phenomenon is thus initiated. It
depends on the physical-chemical characteristics of the three
phases, in particular the affinity of their interfaces (more or less
hydrophobic).
FLOTATION INDUCED BY MICROBUBBLES
Bubbles of 2 to 4 mm are usually classified as “medium”, bubbles
of several hundredths of a µm to 1 mm are classified as “fine”,
and those of 40 to 70 µm as “microbubbles”.
In the field of water treatment, the term “flotation” generally
refers only to flotation induced using microbubbles. This process
is called Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF).
This is the type of flotation which is most commonly used in
water treatment because it is well suited to the treatment of
flocs, which are often fragile and of relatively low density and are
generally formed of hydroxides and/or organic products.
The use of microbubbles is required for the separation of
flocs. There is, for example, 8,000 times more air in a 1.2 mm
bubble than in a 60 µm bubble, the result being that:
• the use of bubbles with a diameter of several millimeters leads,
if there is to be a good distribution of bubbles on the entire
section of the equipment, to an air flow which is far greater
than that resulting from the use of microbubbles, and this
large quantity of air would generate highly disturbing turbulent
currents;
Handbook Factsheets
Urban Wastewater
Desalination
Drinking Water
Tertiary phosphate removal
L O T A T I O N
• as the concentration of bubbles increases, the probability
of meeting between solid particles and bubbles increases.
Furthermore, the low upward velocity of the microbubbles in
relation to the fluid mass gives them good adherence to the
fragile particles that make up the flocs;
• lastly, the coupling is easier if their diameter is much smaller
than that of the floc in suspension.
To separate bulky, lighter-than-water, hydrophobic particles,
which float naturally, and where it is only necessary to improve
flotation and maintain the “cake” on the surface, larger bubbles
can be used (fine or even medium bubbles are sufficient). This is
the case for the separation of fats.
CONVENTIONAL DISSOLVED AIR FLOTATION
(DAF) UNIT
This type of flotation unit is particularly well suited to the
treatment of water containing low amounts of matter, giving a
light, fragile floc. The separation rate is 8 à 10 m·h–1.
The coagulant and the raw water to be treated are introduced
into the coagulation area to neutralize the charges of colloids
present in the water. Once their charges have been neutralized,
the colloids agglomerate through movement to form “flocs” in
the flocculation area. These solid particles agglomerated in the
water are then sent to the flotation area, where microbubbles
of air are diffused. The flocs attach themselves to the air bubbles
and rise back to the surface, where they float, thereby forming a
sludge blanket, which is removed by scraping or by overflow,
without disturbing the expansion area in the dedicated channels.
The treated water is recovered by underflow.
It is worthy of note that for waste water, it is not always possible
to float all suspended solids. Inevitably, some of them, being too
heavy, will accumulate in the long run along the bottom of the
equipment. Thus, flotation units treating urban and industrial
waste water or sludge are always equipped with a system to
remove sludge from the bottom (highly conical bottom or floor
scrapers).
HIGH-SPEED RECTANGULAR FLOTATION
UNIT
This technology was developed to respond to the need to
increase separation rates to above 8-10 m·h–1. The size of the
works is thus reduced.
The main developments concern:
• the distribution of pressurized water on the entire flotation
unit surface. A real 1-2 m high “bubble blanket” can thus be
created;
• the use of collectors arranged on the bottom, or a perforated
floor, to collect the water along the whole surface and not just
at one end.
RICTOR process
The hydraulic modifications of the conventional flotation units
have produced the following improvements:
• the bubble blanket becomes a mattress whose concentration
decreases from top to bottom, where flocculation continues.
Solid/liquid separation is refined, thanks to a higher
concentration of bubbles and flocs than in a conventional
diffused reactor, improving the chances of meeting and
attaching. Furthermore, the bubble bed gives the bubble-floc
aggregates high upward velocity, with the microbubble
velocity rising from 5 to 25-40 m·h–1 (depending on the
characteristics of the floc and the temperature of the water),
due to coalescence and/or agglomeration;
• the shape of a bubble blanket flotation unit is different from that
of a conventional flotation unit. The “length” between the inlet
of this kind of equipment and its outlet is less than the “width”
so that the blanket affects the entire volume of the equipment ;
• the duration of prior flocculation can be restricted to 10-15
minutes (rather than 15-30 min);
• the spillover of sludge by overflowing is well suited to the shape
of the cell (short in length and fairly wide). A “hydraulic knife”
helps to unstick the cake from the walls and limits the quantity
of water discharged with the cake.
APPLICATIONS OF DAF
There are numerous applications of dissolved air flotation in the
field of water treatment:
• separating out flocculated matter in surface water clarification
applications (for water which does not have a high quantity of
suspended solids (SS) but is rich in organic matter (OM) or algae
and/or is highly coloured, as is typical of the water from many
lakes or dams) or in sea water clarification as reverse osmosis
pretreatment;
• physical-chemical tertiary treatment in the treatment of waste
water;
• separating out activated sludge in biological processes using
attached growths on free supports;
• thickening of excess activated sludge produced from waste
water biological treatment (including filter and biofilter washing
sludge);
• separating out and recovering fibres from paper mill water, or
fats and proteins in the agri-food industry;
• separating out oils in waste water from refineries, airports and
metallurgy;
• separating out metallic hydroxides or pigments.
AquadafTM - SeadafTM - GreendafTM
Mechanic flocculation Hydraulic flocculation
DEGRÉMONT’s HIGH SPEED FLOTATION
UNITS
Based on technology developed by RICTOR, AquadafTM -
SeadafTM - GreendafTM, are Degrémont’s solutions for the
flotation of fresh water, sea water and waste water respectively.
So-called “turbulent” flotation was developed by the Finnish
company, Oy Rictor. It developed a perforated collection floor
which enables uniform spreading of the microbubbles over the
entire surface of the basin. At the end, it functions 3 to 5 times
faster than traditional processes. Degrémont has an exclusive
license to operate this process.
ÎÎ Development of the process
In order to respond to the varying needs of its expertises,
Degrémont developed the process by particularly making
improvements to the design of the flocculator (making it more
compact), the air injection device, and the reagents used to
treat very difficult water.
Degrémont’s rapid flotation units include the following:
• the integration of coagulation and flocculation with a piston-
type hydraulic agitation area to optimize the agglomeration of
colloids in flocs;
• one pressurization line per unit;
• patented release nozzles for the pressurized air;
• a flotation reservoir with a patented perforated floor which
enables the coalescence and agglomeration of the bubbles
and floc;
• a hydraulic device for recovering sludge with the help of a
mobile overflow area.
Degrémont’s rapid flotation units are standardized with two types
of flocculation: mechanical and hydraulic.
 Degrémont Water Treatment Handbook Factsheets

1st Degrémont’s adaption

Mechanical floculation
Flocculation coagulation time
= 2 + 10 min
(1 coagulation tank followed by 2
helix flocculation cells)
2nd Degrémont’s adaptation
Hydraulic flocculation
Flocculation coagulation time
= 3 + 5 min
(2 coagulation tanks followed by
1 flocculation cell equipped with
piston flow baffles)
(Rictor: Flocculation coagulation time = 2 + 12 min)
ÎÎ The range
SeadafTM (flotation unit with hydraulic flocculation) is adapted
to the clarification of seawater or brackish water laden
with organic matter and/or algae, permanently or on a seasonal
basis. It is integrated in a reverse osmosis desalination process
upstream of a level of SeacleanTM filters or ultrafiltration.
On large installations, the use of coastal wells is replaced by
the use of sea water intake. This water can contain algae and
organic matter: the hotter the water is, such as the water in the
Gulf, for example, the higher the contents can be. It is therefore
necessary to have a conventional or membrane filtration stage
prior to the reverse osmosis.
SeadafTM optimizes the operation of this stage of filtration
and reduces the loss of associated water by reducing the
frequency with which the filters need to be washed in the case
of conventional filtration, and by improving the membrane flow
in the case of membrane filtration.

GreendafTM TW, MW et BWW

SEPARATION TERTIARY TREATMENT
SECONDARY PHOSPHATE REMOVAL
SETTLING

PRETREATMENT PRIMARY BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT DISCHARGE TO

SETTLING NO FIXED MIXED THE ENVIRONMENT
MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA

ULTRAFILTRATION

Greendaf™

AquadafTM In the field of urban waste water treatment, GreendafTM is a

rapid flotation unit with 3 products with hydraulic flocculation.

 GreendafTM TW (Tertiary Water) is for the removal of

In the field of treatment for the production of drinking water,
AquadafTM is the product dedicated to the clarification of
surface waters or water from boreholes.
Its specificity lies in its flexibility. It treats even very cold
surface water (as low as 0°C) and it can bear occasional peaks
of suspended solids or turbidity of up to 200 NTU. It can be
adapted to different water types thanks to its two levels of
rapid mixer and its 4 possible points for the injection of reagents.
The new design of the flocculation stage reduces the reaction
time and decreases the size of the works while maintaining
performance.
The two flocculator versions coexist:
• AquadafTM MF (Mechanical Flocculation);
• AquadafTM HF (Hydraulic Flocculation).
SeadafTM
phosphorus from purified water. It can produce an average daily
phosphorus discharge of:
• 1 mg.L-1 for feed water of 5 mg.L-1 in total P;
• 0.3 mg.L-1 for water of 1mg.L-1 in total P.
GreendafTM TW can be equipped with a scraper which
concentrates the sludge to 15 g.L-1. This sludge can feed a
centrifuge directly.
This product is useful for existing installations to ensure
compliance relating to phosphorus discharge.
 GreendafTM MW (Meteor Water) is for separating activated
sludge produced by biological processes using attached growths
on free MBBR supports (Moving Bed Biofilm Bioreactor - such
as Degrémont’s MeteorTM).
GreendafTM MW makes it possible to obtain discharges which
can be treated through tertiary treatment or be disposed of in
the natural environment.
GreendafTM MW has a surface chain scraper enabling the
quick removal of floating sludge.
 GreendafTM BWW (Biofilter WashWater) makes it possible
to lighten or remove the backing up of washing waters of
biofilters which cannot be disposed of directly into the natural
environment because they contain high levels of suspended
solids (200 to 1,000 mg.L-1). By limiting either the hydraulic
load or the polluting load, GreendafTM BWW optimizes the
primary settler-biofilter treatment line. It avoids oversizing of the
treatment line upstream.
GreendafTM BWW is characterized particularly by an online
mixer, a surface chain scraper, and the absence of a flocculator.
The scraper makes it possible to obtain a sludge concentration
of 15 to 30g.L-1, comparable to that of thickened sludge.
 Degrémont Water Treatment Handbook Factsheets

OPERATION • very little electromechanical equipment is in contact with

All these rapid flotation units present numerous opportunities for
operation in comparison to conventional flotation:
• easier maintenance, since there is little mechanical equipment
and no lamellar modules;
• no material support to ballast the flocs;
• instant starting/stopping (easy operation and optimization of
operator safety);
• no major risks linked to lack of polymer (AquadafTM );
• occasional use of polymers (only during peaks of suspended
solids) (AquadafTM - SeadafTM);
• can bear occasional strong peaks of turbidity, up to 200 NTU
(AquadafTM);
• can support high circulation speeds, making it possible to
treat large volumes of water (particularly useful for the feed of
reverse osmosis in desalination) (SeadafTM);
seawater, thanks to a piston flocculation reactor (SeadafTM);
• covered air saturation tank, proven to be compatible with sea
water (SeadafTM).
ÎÎ Sustainable development
Rapid flotation is an interesting alternative to conventional
flotation both economically and in terms of sustainable
development:
• the footprint is reduced and the height of the structure is limited
thanks to the compactness of the products (70% gain in space
in comparison to a classic flotation installation);
• low electrical consumption, since there is very little
electromechanical equipment;
• reduced reagent consumption;
• there is very little water loss linked to washing, so the water
resource is better protected.

A FEW DEGRÉMONT’S REFERENCES

(42 references of rapid flotation devices installed around the world)

AquadafTM
• Macao MSR, China (May 2008) - 60,000 m3.d-1 - 2 AquadafTM = 2x1,340 m3.h-1.
Pretreatment before membranes of water with peaks of turbidity and presence of algae; polymer forbidden.
• Apremont, France (August 2009) - 40,000 m3.d-1 - 2 AquadafTM = 2x1,160 m3.h-1.
Raw water < 240 NTU, average 30 NTU
Treatment line = AquadafTM flotation unit, PAC/PulsazurTM reactor, Aquazur® filtration, UltrazurTM ultrafiltration
GreendafTM TW
• Hudson, MA, USA (Autumn 2009) - 25,000 m3.d-1 - 2 GreendafTM TW = 2x725 m3.h-1.
Specifications regarding discharge into the receiving medium = < 0.1 mg.L-1 Phosphorous – Turbidity <1 NTU
GreendafTM TW
• Évreux, France (March 2012) - 164,000 population equivalent - 3 GreendafTM TW = 3x590 m3.h-1.
Specifications regarding discharge into the receiving medium = 1 mg.L-1 Phosphorous - 10 mg.L-1 SS max.
GreendafTM BWW
• Grenoble, France (late 2013) - 240,000 m3.d-1 - 2 GreendafTM BWW = 2x350 m3.h-1.
Minimum floated sludge concentration = 20 g.L-1
SeadafTM
• Al Dur, Bahrain (January 2012) - 218,000 m3.d-1 (Reverse Osmosis water)
Treatment line = SeadafTM - SeacleanTM dual-media filters - Cartridge filters - 2 stages of reverse osmosis.
14 SeadafTM = 590,000 m3.d-1
• Barcelona, Spain (July 2009) - 200,000 m3.d-1 (Reverse Osmosis water)
Treatment line = SeadafTM - Mediazur filter - SeacleanTM dual-media filters - Cartridge filters - 2 stages of reverse osmosis.
Degrémont Handbook Factsheet n°4 - April 2012 - Photo credits: Degrémont

10 SeadafTM = 480,000 m3.d-1

Contact: innovation.mailin@degremont.com

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