An Investigation of Fabric Filtration for the Removal of Colloidal Turbidity from A Laboratory Water

A kaolin in tapwater suspension was treated either with alum or one of two cationic polymers. The resulting suspension was filtered through various configurations of felt cloth filters. The kaolin suspension was adjusted to 100 JTU. Treatment by polymer consistently lowered the filtered effluent to less than 1 JTU. Jar tests were utilized to determine optimum coagulant dose for the tests. The formulation of a complete filter cake in the filter appeared to be the determining factor in the efficiency of water clarification by the filter. The literature lacked references to this concept as applied to water supply problems. The results of this report suggest that continuous filtration should now be examined