The destabilization mechanism of suspensions of positively charged iron oxide particles by aluminum sulphate was investigated, aiming to evaluate the efficiency of the latter as a coagulant for natural surface waters from iron ore mining plants. Synthetic waters that simulate natural suspensions were used. The best coagulant dosage was found to be 100 mg/L at pH 4. The specific adsorption of hydrolysis products of aluminum salts on iron oxide particles and heterocoagulation processes involving differently charged substrates are proposed to explain the turbidity reduction of the suspensions.
iron oxide particles; destabilization of suspensions; aluminum sulphate
