THE ROLE OF POLYELECTROLYTES IN A MAGNETIC PROCESS FOR WATER CLARIFICATION

Magnetite particles can be used to remove turbidity and colour from water supplies. The impurity-laden iron oxide particles are rapidly separated from the product water by magnetic techniques. The magnetite particles are then regenerated with alkali and reused. Turbidity removal by the process is greatly enhanced if a soluble cationic polyelectrolyte is employed in the clarification step. The present paper describes a range of commercially available and specially synthesized polyelectrolytes which have been tested to determine the polyelectrolyte structures required for the best performance in the process.