Chemical Aspects of Coagulation [with Discussion]

This article presents a comprehensive review of the chemistry underlying the hydrolysis of ferric and aluminum salts, the probable composition of the various hydrolysis products, and suggests the possibility that these highly hydrated materials may very likely have a polymeric structure. It is emphasized throughout the paper that the effect of the multivalent ferric and aluminum ions upon coagulation is not brought about by the ions themselves but by their hydrolysis products. A discussion by A.P. Black follows the article