Effect of Starch on the Flocculation and Settling Behaviour of Titanium Dioxide Suspensions
Abstract This study concerns the problem of removal of suspended solids from the effluent streams of paper mills by chemical treatment. As titanium dioxide is one of the ingredients used in paper mills and present in the effluent streams, its flocculation and settling behaviour were investigated. Jar test experiments were conducted using alum and organic polyelectrolyte as the flocculants. As starch is also used in the paper making process, its influence on the flocculation and settling behaviour of titanium dioxide was conducted with the concentration of starch varying between 0–3% of the dry solids. The experimental results on flocculation are expressed in terms of dimensionless function Gθϕ and flocculation rate constants. The fraction of solids settled is presented in terms of the settling velocity. Concentration of starch was found to have a significant influence. The amount of alum required could be reduced by 75% by using starch 0.6% of the amount of titanium dioxide in the suspension and at the same time improving the settling velocity two folds. A possible application of this finding in pollution abatement is discussed.