of Chitosan with Polyaluminum Chloride in Turbidity Removal from Ahwaz Water Treatment Plant Influent

Chitosan، is a biodegradable cationic polymer، which is derived from deacetylation of chitin. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of chitosan as a coagulant aids in improving the performance of coagulant property of poly-aluminum chloride as a primary coagulant on the removal of turbidity from water. This study، was performed in a laboratory scale and using jar test apparatus in Ahwaz Water Treatment Plant. Experiments were performed with different concentrations of coagulants، pH and different concentrations of chitosan as a coagulant aids. First the samples mixed under rapid mixing condition (120rpm) for 1minute and then the apparatus set to slow mixing (40rpm) for 20 minute. After mixing the samples left for 30 minute in order to settle the sediments. The optimum pH was found 8 in this study. The optimum doses of poly-aluminum chloride in conjunction with chitosan، were 5mg/L and 0. 02 mg/L، respectively. The required dosage of poly-aluminum chloride as a primary coagulant be reduced upto 50% under optimum condition with chitosan. It was also found using chitosan also produced larger floc with higher settling velocity than primary coagulant alone. The results also showed that chitosan as a coagulant aid had a positive effect on turbidity removal.