Patent ID: 7820053
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: C02F

Abstract:
1. A ballasted flocculation process for treating water having pollutant particles, comprising: a. mixing a magnetic ballast, flocculant and the water to form magnetic floc; b. agitating the magnetic floc in a flocculation zone; c. collecting some of the magnetic floc on a first magnetic collector positioned in the flocculation zone; d. shearing the collected magnetic floc to produce a sheared slurry including magnetic ballast and sludge; e. recycling the magnetic ballast to the flocculation zone; f. directing the water and some of the magnetic floc to a settling zone located downstream from the flocculation zone; g. settling by gravity some of the magnetic floc in the settling zone; h. returning at least a portion of the settled magnetic floc to the flocculation zone upstream from the settling zone; and i. magnetically collecting the returned magnetic floc at a point upstream from the settling zone.