Fig. 1: Using fiber-based materials in water treatment to improve process efficiency and sustainability. | npj Clean Water

Fig. 1: Using fiber-based materials in water treatment to improve process efficiency and sustainability.

From: Super-bridging fibrous materials for water treatment

Fig. 1

a The conventional water treatment process. The settling velocity of conventional flocs is low and large settling tanks are thus needed to compensate for their poor settleability. Single-use coagulants/flocculants are sent to landfill and agricultural soils. b The fiber-based process. Fibers (cellulose, cotton, polyester, etc.) are converted into Fe-stabilized flakes that can be used as three-in-one bridging/ballasting/adsorbing material to simultaneously bridge colloids, ballast flocs, and adsorb contaminants whilst reducing coagulant and flocculant usage. Very large flocs generated with fiber-based materials are screenable, which allows to replace settling tanks with very low footprint screens.

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