A simple model to study the flocculation of suspensions over time

Chassagne, C.

doi:10.1016/j.cherd.2021.06.006

A simple model to study the flocculation of suspensions over time

Title

A simple model to study the flocculation of suspensions over time

Author

Chassagne, C. (TU Delft Environmental Fluid Mechanics)

Date

2021

Abstract

The model based on logistic growth theory, that was introduced in Chassagne, Claire, and Zeinab Safar. “Modelling flocculation: Towards an integration in large-scale sediment transport models.” Marine Geology 430 (2020): 106361, can be used to model the time evolution of either the particle (floc) size or the concentration of particles of a given size. In the present article, we show how this model can easily be linked to the many studies performed over the years about the flocculation kinetics at the onset of flocculation experiments. Flocculation experiments done on kaolinite suspensions destabilized by addition of salt are used as examples. Both perikinetic and orthokinetic flocculation are considered. By fitting the experimental data over the whole experiment period, it is shown that the floc size L(t) time evolution follows the relation dL/dt = L/t_b − L²/(L_eqt_b) where t_b is a characteristic time and L_eq a characteristic size, which are obtained from the fits.

Subject

Clay
Colloid
Flocculation
Logistic growth
Population balance

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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:0e539a8f-3b80-4927-9ee6-dba3a3aeccb2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2021.06.006

ISSN

0263-8762

Source

Chemical Engineering Research & Design, 172, 302-311

Part of collection

Institutional Repository