Preparation of polyaluminum zirconium silicate coagulant and its performance in water treatment

A novel type of inorganic polymer coagulant, polyaluminum zirconium silicate sulfate (PAZS), was synthesized via co-polymerization. In the treatment of kaolin-humic acid synthetic water, it was found to be most effective when Si/(Zr + Al) = 1, OH/(Al + Zr) = 0.1, and Al/Zr = 3. Through CCD design, zeta potential and floc analysis, PAZS showed excellent coagulation and sedimentation performance in an experimental pH range of 3 similar to 8. The prepared composite coagulant PAZS was characterized by FTIR, XRD, and SEM. Results indicate that PAZS is a highly polymerized complex with rough folded surfaces. The adsorption bridging effect and charge characteristics enabled PAZS to function in an acidic environment. The findings from the research conducted indicate that PAZS is a promising coagulant for efficient water treatment.