ABSTRACT
In this study, flocculation tests to obtain satisfactory water clarity is carried out with wastewater containing 10% solid by weight and high amounts of fines (about 72% and 82% of minus 10 micron) from two marble cutting plants in which Truva Beyaz and Muğla Beyaz marble is treated. Zeta potentials between pH values of 6 and 12 were measured for both Truva Beyaz and Mugla Beyaz marble suspensions. Within the pH range employed, the particles of Truva Beyaz never achieved positive zeta potentials while the sample of Mugla Beyaz the pzc occurred four times. Flocculants of the type polyacrylamide (anionic and cationic) and a coagulant produced by a domestic company (BK.İ Chemical Company) were tested at different charge densities for clarification of the marble suspension. All the polyacrylamide type flocculants were found to flocculate the calcite to different levels. Effectiveness of the flocculants was: CK645>AK111>AK117>AK118 at a dose of 6 ppm. In the case of the treatment of wastewater from the marble-cutting plants, it is possible to reuse the clean water obtained economically and to re-use the solids containing 96% CaCO3, in the other industries such as filler, paper, paint, plastics etc.
