# Experimental Research on Quarry Wastewater Purification Using Flocculation Process

## TL;DR

This study explores using a combination of organic and inorganic flocculants to purify quarry wastewater, achieving high efficiency in reducing turbidity and enabling water reuse.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the systematic investigation of synergistic effects between organic and inorganic flocculants to enhance wastewater purification.

## Key findings

- Optimal conditions achieved 97.30 NTU residual turbidity, meeting industrial discharge standards.
- Zeta potential, microscopy, and DLVO theory explained enhanced aggregation behavior mechanistically.
- Combined use of PAC, PAM, and CaO improved floc settling and turbidity reduction.

## Abstract

The flocculation-based purification of quarry wastewater continues to pose a significant challenge in mineral processing and environmental engineering, primarily due to persistent turbidity issues and inefficient floc settling behaviour. In this study, we systematically investigate the synergistic effects of organic and inorganic flocculants to reduce turbidity and improve floc settling performance. Through a series of optimised experiments using polyaluminium chloride as an inorganic flocculant, polyacrylamide as an organic flocculant, and calcium oxide as a pH regulator agent, the treatment efficiency was evaluated. Under the optimal conditions with 200 g/m3 CaO as the regulator agent and 2.5 g/m3 PAC and 12 g/m3 PAM as flocculants, the residual turbidity was reduced to 97.30 NTU, meeting stringent industrial discharge standards and enabling zero-discharge water reuse. Zeta potential measurements, optical microscopy, and DLVO theory collectively elucidated the interfacial interactions between flocculants and mineral particles, with zeta potential revealing electrostatic effects, microscopy visualising aggregation patterns, and DLVO theory modelling revealing colloidal stability, thereby mechanistically explaining the enhanced aggregation behaviour.