Plenary Lecture

Inorganic Pre-Polymerised Coagulants: Current Status and Future Trends

Prof. A. I. Zouboulis
Co-authors: N. D. Tzoupanos and P. A. Moussas
Division of Chemical Technology
Department of Chemistry (P.O. Box 116)
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
GR-54124, Greece

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to provide an overview, regarding the evolution of the inorganic pre-polymerised coagulants by summarizing the latest developments in their composition, properties and applications for the treatment of water or wastewater. Considerable attention has been paid during the recent years for the preparation of pre-polymerised metal-ion coagulants, based either on aluminium (e.g. poly-aluminium chloride, PAC), or ferric cations (e.g. polyferric sulphate, PFS), as they exhibit better performance and efficiency, than the conventionally applied coagulants (aluminium or iron (III) based salts). However, their efficiency is still lower, than the organic polymeric coagulants. Therefore, attempts have been made to improve further the efficiency of pre-polymerised coagulants either by producing a mixed coagulant (i.e. containing both aluminium and iron), or by adding other components to produce new composite coagulant agents. Concerning the second approach, the additive most frequently used is the polysilicic acid. Also, certain organic compounds (e.g. polydimethyl-diallyl-ammonium chloride, PDMDAAC) may also be employed for such a purpose. Finally, the aforementioned (modified) inorganic pre-polymerised coagulants were found to exhibit a better coagulation performance for the treatment of water or wastewater, when compared with the non-modified ones.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
Dr. Anastasios Zouboulis has a great experience in the field of water and wastewater treatment technologies, wastewater management, reclamation and reuse. He is author/co-author of more than 120 papers, published in scientific journals and of more than 100 papers published in the proceedings of national & International conferences. He has supervised 7 Ph.D. (5 already finished) and 10 M.Sc. Theses and more than 50 Diploma theses. He has participated in 40 national and international research and demonstration projects, funded by E.U. and from local sources (ministries, industries, companies etc.), while he was Scientific Responsible in the 21 of them, regarding mainly with the fields of wastewater treatment processes, environmental biotechnology, as well as the treatment of industrial solid toxic wastes by the application of appropriate stabilization methods. His international reputation was recently recognised by his election as (foreign) member in the Russian Academy of Sciences. He is also an active consultant for several local industries in the field of environmental protection, a national expert for the horizontal activities of FP6 and FP7, and he is acting often as a reviewer/evaluator for scientific publications, as well as for several EU or national research projects. He is also member of the Editorial Board of scientific publications (Separation Science & Technology, Chemosphere, Water Research, Journal of Hazardous Meterials), as well as a member of the Organizing and Scientific Committee of national and international conferences.